Expanding horizons and training talent
Taiwan is home to over 90,000 non-governmental organizations, covering areas as diverse as education, the environment, medicine, and agriculture. This year’s NGO Forum, a first for the program, saw the PILP fellows exposed to the experience and enthusiasm of six of these, namely the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation, the Tzu Chi Foundation, Vision YouthAction, the Chinese Wild Bird Federation, the Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation, and the Taipei Zoological Foundation.
Jade Cruz, of Palau, shares that prior to coming to Taiwan, she had never thought about getting involved with agriculture. Through the PILP, though, she has gained an understanding of the development of organic agriculture in Taiwan and seen how the country is working to protect the environment. Now she hopes to take that knowledge back to Palau and begin focusing on agricultural and food safety issues there.
Philippe Lemonnier, a leadership education teaching assistant from the East‡West Center, accompanied the group to Taiwan. Coming here has opened the eyes of many of the fellows, he says, showing them that they can do more and do things differently. Their experience in Taiwan will inform their postgraduate studies in their home countries, and many of them will go on to start companies or NGOs of their own, all because they came to Taiwan.
Lori Concepcion, also of the East‡West Center, shares that “one of the Generation 4 PILP fellows actually started a project to help women in their home community after they went back to their country.” In such ways, the fellows are able to take what they learn in Taiwan and make a real difference.
Lemonnier, himself a Generation 2 fellow, says his life changed through his participation in the PILP. Originally a lawyer, his four weeks in Taiwan opened his eyes to new possibilities. After returning to French Polynesia he launched TEDxPapeete, bringing exciting speeches to his home city. He has also set up an enterprise named Pacific Ventury, using classes and workshops to help companies and individuals find their true passions, boost their leadership skills, tap into their potential, and prepare for the challenges of the future.
Vice President Chen Chien-jen also personally met with this year’s fellows, saying, “Through cooperation, we can come together to address the pressing challenges of the times, like climate change, sustainable development, environmental protection, and clean energy. To truly meet these challenges, we need to train outstanding leaders…. Only with leaders ready for the future will we be able to strike a balance between local values and the needs of modern society.” We hope that with vision and wisdom, these leaders of the future will lead the peoples of the Pacific, and of the world, toward a brighter future.
During the six-week PILP, participants visited destinations across Taiwan, learning about Taiwan’s efforts in areas including environmental protection, medical care, and culture.
Charles Y. Huang, chair of Taiwan Sugar, shared with the PILP fellows the concept of the circular economy, making quite an impression on many of them.
The PILP fellows listened carefully and made the most of opportunities to ask questions.
Young people from a variety of different countries and specializations gathered in Taiwan to jointly seek solutions for the challenges facing many island nations.
Hopefully, these Pacific youths will take back home with them both a taste of Taiwanese hospitality and lessons from Taiwan’s achievements that will help them create a better future for the next generation. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)