Training
Because of the lack of care and their frustration in the school system, these lonely rebellious teenagers have become isolated from family and school, but they should never be abandoned by society.
Examining the annual social welfare budget from the Ministry of the Interior, expenditure on youth counseling accounts for only 1-2% of annual funding (about NT$70 billion). And because of the limited resources, few social groups are able to devote attention to youth counseling.
For example, Elim Young, with nine full-time counselors and an annual intake of 25 to 30 students, needs about NT$8 million in funding per year. At present, 50% of this comes from government subsidies, while the remainder is provided by private organizations such as Yonglin Foundation, and minor donations.
According to data from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, there are about 1,620,000 teenagers aged 15 to 19 in Taiwan. Unemployment rates in this age group are around 11%, double the national average of 5%. According to the DGBAS' Human Resources Survey, since 2000 about 150,000 teenagers have entered the employment market annually, but approximately 20,000 have been unable to find a suitable job and have become unemployed. Of these 20,000, a small number go on to study at night school in a senior high school or senior vocational school, but most become "NEETs"-young people not in education, employment or training.
Ye Dahua, secretary-general of the Taiwan Alliance for the Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare (TAAYRW), points out that youth unemployment is a major issue and a priority globally.
At the end of 2008, the National Youth Commission (NYC) launched the Youngsters' On Light Project. Students undertake courses such as career exploration, experiential education and employability competence training. Then work placements are arranged for students according to individual aptitudes and interests. A wage of NT$100 per hour is paid by the NYC. Nearly 900 people have participated in this program, and about 80% of the participants have entered the permanent workplace or returned to school as a result.
Since 2009, TAAYRW has cooperated with FamilyMart to launch a Disadvantaged Teens Training Program, providing career counseling, work placements, apprenticeship opportunities and the chance to do work for charity organizations. The program has helped 200 teenagers, who were neither studying nor working, to either find employment or return to school.
The young people may not be familiar with farming, but they do everything necessary by themselves: from repairing a greenhouse framework to mixing soil and sowing seeds. High-quality potted plants produced by the Elim Young farm have been sold to major flower markets in Taipei, as well as being available for individual purchase.