Yitehu Studio struggles to survive in the Shanlin Da'ai Park

It has been nearly five years since Typhoon Morakot struck. For many residents living in the reconstruction areas, a "home" is not just an empty shell of hardware; it must also be a space that can provide economic livelihood and spiritual sustenance.

In the post-disaster reconstruction, although the government and religious groups worked together to build "permanent housing" for the disaster victims in the form of "parks," as outside impressions of Typhoon Morakot gradually fade and attention dwindles, the reconstruction areas, lacking industrial support, still cannot escape the fate of population outflow. Permanent housing cannot keep young and able-bodied people; the parks are left with only women, the elderly and children; home is always missing a piece of the puzzle.

To break through the predicament of declining industry in the park, Chen Qiuxiang, a resident of the Shanlin Da'ai Park who originally came from Nansalu in Namaxia, Kaohsiung, started from her own sewing expertise and combined the cultural characteristics of the Bunun people to establish "It-hu Studio" (hu, pronounced the same as hu in "protect") to make and sell owl cloth dolls. Through this kind of micro-entrepreneurship, she hopes not only to create employment opportunities for the women of Da'ai Park, but also that the studio can attract tourists to visit, bringing a little vitality of industry to the depressed park.

It-hu brings children, and also brings hope

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