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`Youth diplomat' program seeking student applicants

High school students, officials and three winners of last year's ``Youth Diplomat'' competition give the thumbs-up during a press conference promoting this year's competition. PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES

To encourage an interest in English and world affairs among high-school students, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education sponsor an annual "youth diplomats" competition to find young people to serve as goodwill envoys abroad.

At a press conference at the foreign ministry yesterday, Vice Minister of Education Wu Tsai-shun (吳財順) said that there are 471 high schools and vocational schools in Taiwan and at least 150 schools participate in the competition each year.

"Through this activity, we hope our students can improve their English ability and their communication skills, which are the skills that diplomats must have," Wu said.

Winners will win NT$50,000 and have the chance to go abroad to interact with students their age, as well as help promote Taiwan.

The 12 winners of last year's competition were at yesterday's press conference to share their experiences of being "youth diplomats," and encouraged others to enter the competition. They said they had learned a lot and made many friends through the program.

The 12 traveled to Belgium and the Netherlands in February, visiting the EU Commission in Brussels and parliaments in both countries.

"I think it is really cool to meet so many different friends and the best part is that we have the chance to promote Taiwan to them," said Vincent Chen (陳韋廷), a 16-year-old student at Taipei Municipal Chien-Kuo High School.

Chen said that some of his European friends did not know the difference between Taiwan and China. He told them the biggest difference was that Taiwan is a country with a democratic system and that Taiwanese enjoy freedom of speech.

"We are proud of our democracy. That is really something for Taiwan," Chen said.
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