Making Good Use of Their Youth

“You know what? The kids here [in Nauru] are still singing the Chinese Scouting songs you taught them!” “I was inspired to learn more about the world by my mission as a youth ambassador.” “I told them about the green fields of my hometown, Changhua, and the times I spent with my friends at the Love River in Kaohsiung, where I went to university.” “This patient would likely have survived in Taiwan, because our hospitals rarely suffer power outages.” “It was only by integrating sustainable development goals into our efforts that I came to truly under­stand the meaning of volunteering. It can include so very much.”

The International Youth Ambassadors selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) have had a wide range of experi­ences in Taiwan’s diplomatic partner nations, in fields such as education, public welfare, the arts, and medicine. In this issue of Taiwan Panorama some of them discuss their formative years, their worries, and how they used their expert­ise to forge links with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, displaying the courage of young Taiwanese in pursuing their dreams.

Amid a new global wave of Covid-19, food security is a critical concern. We look at Taiwan’s efforts to use smart agriculture and technology for disaster prevention and mitigation, in order to improve food security and alleviate the impact of global warming. We also tell the story of Sun Ten Pharmaceutical founder Hsu Hong-yen, who posthumously donated his huge collection of Taiwanese art, housed at the Sun Ten Museum in the US, to Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, making a great contribution to preserving our cultural heritage.

French-born blood plasma expert ­Thierry Burnouf tells us of his connection with Taiwan, and how as vice dean of the College of Biomedical Engineering at Taipei Medical University he has acted as a bridge between Taiwanese and French academic research. We also introduce you to the Women Make Waves Film Festival, now in its 28th year.

The hardworking spirit of Taiwan’s older generation lives on in our youth. Veteran tailor Liang Tong-fu, who has witnessed 60 years of Taiwan’s bespoke suit industry, recalls his apprenticeship: “I was lucky to get four or five hours’ sleep a night.” Meanwhile, at the Sem­inar on Youth Leadership in the Post-Covid-19 Era, held by MOFA in 2020, youth ambas­­sadors from various fields earnestly encouraged people to engage in public service. And our athletes’ brilliant performance at the Tokyo Olympics has shown Taiwan’s resili­ence and determination to the world.

These young people are dedicating their precious youth to embracing ideals and taking on challenges, ensuring that the spirit of Taiwan is passed on to future generations.