The 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research (YCAR) recently received a $500,000 donation from Canadian philanthropist, author and business woman Vivienne Poy听to create an endowment to support student engagement in Hakka research and scholarship.听This generous gift plants a seed听for the growth of a听Hakka Scholars Network听迟辞听develop Hakka research and scholarship at 91亚色 and promote this scholarship in Canada and internationally.听听听
鈥This is the first Hakka Studies initiative outside of Asia and听further stimulates听the study of Asia and Asian Diaspora that is听at once听cross-regional and听local in its engagement with Asian Canadian communities,鈥 said听Abidin听Kusno, YCAR director.听听
Vivienne Poy
An听accomplished entrepreneur, fashion designer, historian and author,听Poy was the听first Canadian of Asian descent to be appointed to the Senate of听Canada (1998鈥2012). She had听been supportive of YCAR鈥檚 initiatives听with the establishment of the Vivienne Poy Asian Research Award, and听donated the proceeds of her book Profit, Victory and Sharpness: The Lees of Hong Kong to YCAR, in support of听graduate student research on Asia and the听Asian听Diaspora.听听
The reason for choosing to support students engaging with Hakka Research and scholarship, according to Poy, is that听Hakka听is a subgroup of the Han Chinese with a distinct culture.听听
鈥Their historic villages were circular fortresses built with very thick walls for听defence. Hakka women are known for their unbound feet, strength and resilience,鈥 said Poy. "The Hakkas have contributed globally over centuries, and many have risen to prominence at home and in their countries of adoption, a fact that is not widely known. As a Hakka descendant on my mother鈥檚 side, it is of great interest to me to support scholarly research on this group."
Poy听kicked off the initiative with听the听aspiration that it will soon develop into a multi-faceted program. As students represent the future, she decided听to establish the Vivienne听Poy听Hakka Graduate Research Award as part of听her donation.听
鈥淭he annual award will encourage 91亚色鈥檚 graduate students to conduct research on topic(s) related to Hakka cultures, histories and geographies听anywhere in the world,鈥 said Kusno. The inaugural award will be given out in听the听Fall 2020听term.听听
Together with听the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, YCAR will launch the Hakka Scholars Network with an event this fall.听The听network听also has an ambitious plan for eight research and teaching initiatives that YCAR and its 91亚色-based and external partners, hope to develop听incrementally听over听the next 10听years.听听
鈥淭he Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies is delighted to support the establishment of Hakka Scholars Network Fund at YCAR,鈥 said Lily Cho, associate dean, Global & Community Engagement for the Faculty. 鈥淲e know how important it is听to prepare our students for the global economy by offering them a chance to experience the world. This fund will be crucial 迟辞听opening up听our undergraduate student experience to complexities and richness of Hakka culture, identity, and history. The Hakka Scholars Network Fund illuminates a world of diasporic culture and connection that builds on 91亚色鈥檚 long-standing commitment to Hakka communities.鈥听听听
Over the next two years, a committee comprised of听91亚色 and external members will develop a summer听study abroad听course, which听aims听to bring 91亚色 undergraduate-level students to a part of the world where they will learn and experience aspects of鈥Hakka鈥cultures, histories and geographies.听This course, which听is planned to be听first held in听Summer听2022,听will include听field study to explore听specific locales where听students will develop community-based research projects and present them in a conference or an exhibit.听听
The听inaugural Hakka symposium will be held in 2022 to bring together researchers focusing on Hakka studies to share the latest knowledge and research and grow the academic field.听In听the longer term, the Hakka Scholars Network Committee will be seeking support to establish a Chair in Hakka Studies as well as a funded visiting scholar opportunity, a language听and cultural听training program, an undergraduate scholarship for students听interested in听Hakka听studies听as well as a virtual archive of Hakka听diaspora.听
Although Hakka studies at 91亚色 may be in a nascent phase, there is a long association between the University and Hakka scholars and community members. The first Toronto Hakka Conference was held at 91亚色 in 2000 and YCAR will co-host the sixth edition, which will take place on Keele听campus in July 2021 (rescheduled from 2020 due to COVID-19).听听
According to Keith Lowe, co-founder of the Toronto Hakka Conference and member of YCAR鈥檚 External Advisory Council, 鈥The donation from Dr. Poy marks a new growth of the Toronto Hakka Conference, especially in its engagement with the University听since the first conference in 2000.鈥听