Touching Hearts and Minds:

To encourage young people to get outside their comfort zones, in 2024 the YDA granted subsidies to 111 groups to undertake overseas volunteer work in 22 countries. The YDA also selected more than 20 outstanding teams to receive monetary awards.

Stacy Huang, chief of the Service-Learning Section of the YDA’s International and Experiential Learning Division, notes that the services provided by these outstanding teams not only meet local needs, but are varied and creative. Moreover, there are excellent mechanisms in place for successors to carry on their work, thereby conforming to the spirit of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, the young people involved are able to gain new perspectives on their future career choices, and they acquire a better understanding of the world and of themselves.

As President Lai Ching-te said when he met representatives of youth overseas service teams, when young people do volunteer work overseas, this is one way of helping Taiwan to reach out to the world and enabling the world to better understand Taiwan. Every volunteer is a spokesperson for Taiwan who makes it possible for the world to see Taiwan’s goodwill, capabilities, and contributions. 

Primary-school children in Battambang Province, Cambodia enjoy themselves as they do calisthenics with instructors from the FLYoung International Service organization. (courtesy of TMU FLYoung International Service)

Children at the Chiangmai Tzuchi School make miniature versions of traditional dragon and lion dance masks. (courtesy of NCNU Beyond the Globe)