Chiayi City is deepening its international education partnership with Humboldt County, California. On August 17, Mayor Huang Min-hui led an education delegation to Eureka City Hall, where they were warmly welcomed by Mayor Kim Bergel. Huang witnessed the signing of an MOU between Jiabei Elementary School and Big Lagoon Elementary School, and joined local Girl Scouts in exchanging experiences on girls' empowerment and service learning — marking a new chapter as the partnership expands from school-based cooperation to city-level exchange.
Mayor Huang said the four-year trans-Pacific partnership, which began with the first education MOU in 2022, has grown into a close and lasting friendship through reciprocal visits, workshops, and school exchanges. A total of 25 teachers from Humboldt County have visited Chiayi for educational exchanges and joint curriculum planning, while this marks Chiayi's second delegation to Humboldt County. She noted that Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel is also an educator who understands the transformative power of education — not just as the transfer of knowledge, but as a means of helping children see the world, discover their potential, and envision their future. She expressed hope that both sides will continue expanding educational and city-level cooperation to create broader international opportunities for the next generation.
Dr. Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent of the Humboldt County Office of Education, brought the original 2022 MOU to the meeting and highlighted the results of years of sustained partnership. Mayor Huang said international education should be more than a single event or overseas trip — it should be woven into students' daily learning, making language a practical tool for friendship, cultural understanding, and global connection. Chiayi schools have since established 11 school-to-school partnerships with schools in Humboldt County and across California, through video exchanges, letter writing, cultural box exchanges, and joint curriculum development.
Beyond school exchanges, Mayor Huang met with Girl Scout partners from Humboldt County and Eureka in her capacity as chair of the Girl Scouts of Taiwan, sharing experiences in girls' empowerment and service learning. She gave special recognition to Cheryl Kingham, who has volunteered with Girl Scouts for 24 years. Huang said the spirit of "We see. We care. And we act." reflects the shared purpose of both Girl Scouting and international education — helping students grow into citizens who look beyond their o
Sources: Chiayi County Government
