On International Women's Day, the Chiayi County Service Station of the National Immigration Agency’s Southern District Affairs Brigade hosted a family education course for new immigrants, inviting Zhang Yanjun from mainland China as a guest speaker to share her entrepreneurial journey in Taiwan. Zhang Yanjun has received numerous accolades, including Model Mother of Chiayi County and City, Outstanding Woman, and Filial Piety Role Model. In 2022, her handmade sauce brand, "Yi Zhi Wei Handmade Sauce," was recognized as an exemplary micro-enterprise by the Ministry of Labor.

Originally from Guilin, Guangxi, Zhang Yanjun faced many challenges adapting to life in Taiwan. However, with hard work and support from entrepreneurial resources, she successfully launched her business. Her journey was not without hardship—during her first trip back home, she unexpectedly received the devastating news of her husband's sudden passing. Left to care for her in-laws and raise her children alone, she refused to be defeated by adversity. Instead, she persevered and participated in the "New Women’s Power – New Immigrant Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program," where she won first place nationwide in 2018 and received a startup grant of NT$300,000. Beyond her personal success, she has helped more than ten fellow new immigrants participate in and win entrepreneurial competitions, showcasing the resilience of women.Lecturer Zhang Yanjun shares her experience of living in Taiwan. (Photo: Screenshot from the Immigration Agency website)

At the end of the course, Zhang Yanjun introduced her hometown’s traditional delicacy, Guilin Da You Cha (Guilin Oil Tea). She explained that this unique tea-drinking tradition, popular in northern Guangxi and among certain ethnic minorities, is listed as an intangible cultural heritage and is an essential part of daily meals in Guilin. The preparation of oil tea requires three special tools: a tea pot, a tea pestle, and a tea strainer. The process involves heating a tea pot with a small amount of tea oil, adding cleaned tea leaves and sliced ginger, and using a tea pestle to repeatedly pound and press the leaves to extract their essence. Then, boiling water is added, and the mixture is brought to a boil before being strained to produce authentic oil tea. Many participants experienced making and tasting oil tea for the first time and found the process fascinating and enjoyable.Lecturer Zhang Yanjun explains how to make Guilin oil tea. (Photo: Screenshot from the Immigration Agency website)

Huang Shih-Hua, director of the Chiayi County Service Station, emphasized that International Women's Day commemorates the women's rights movement. Although it is not a national holiday in Taiwan, both central and local governments organize various events to highlight its significance. He expressed gratitude to Zhang Yanjun for sharing her story and acknowledged the contributions of new immigrants to Taiwanese society. He hopes that such programs will help more new immigrants integrate into life in Taiwan, pursue their dreams, and build a better future.