Like black leggings under jean skirts, hand-painted canvas shoes and lop-sided mane-like hairstyles, overseas volunteer service has become a trend among the nation's youths -- and the NGOs benefiting from a blossoming social consciousness hope the fad is here to stay.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs statistics, Taiwan has more than 35,000 nonprofit organizations, the majority of which have sprung up in the past few years. Taiwan may still be struggling to gain official recognition at international bodies, but its humanitarian work is being lauded in many countries.
In May 2005, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt wrote a letter to then WHO director-general Lee Jong-wok praising Taiwan's contribution to the fight against AIDS in Africa and South and Central America.
Taiwan also received positive feedback from Thai officials for social work there helping descendents of Chinese refugees pursue studies and live a drug-free lifestyle.
The government has also encouraged relief work and other aid projects abroad, with some analysts saying such efforts increase the nation's visibility more than official diplomatic efforts.
The government has called on the nation's youth to learn about life and the world by joining volunteer projects. In response, the National Youth Commission has launched programs abroad to create volunteer opportunities.
This year, the commission has also provided grants to more than 30 volunteer groups on trips to Indonesia, India, Malawi, Thailand, Myanmar, Bulgaria and elsewhere.
"Those in the 18-to-30 age group are the future leaders of this country. It is imperative that they have a global perspective on life to compete on the emerging globalized market. Overseas volunteer work is a great way to let our youth see the world and let the world see the strength of our youth," Commission Chairwoman Cheng Li-chun (
The opportunities to travel and help abroad have attracted enthusiastic applicants, but participants should be prepared for a challenging experience. Whether it be building houses or teaching English in an isolated village, humanitarian work in a foreign culture is not all fun and games.
"It goes without saying that our youth are full of compassion and energy. Many of them are very hardworking and dedicated," said Jimmy Wu (
However, Wu said that young Taiwanese volunteers -- although good at hands-on projects -- lack confidence in English and knowledge both of their home country and the outside world.
Wu said he had often seen volunteers freeze up when talking to locals or volunteers from other countries.
"Some of them can't even discuss or introduce Taiwan at great length because they don't know enough about their own country, let alone what's going on in other parts of the world," he said.
Other volunteers become a "burden" for the group because they "haven't done their homework" before setting out on the trip, Wu said, adding that ignorance led to volunteers making wrong assumptions about what is best for the community they are helping.
"Of course we want to encourage more young people to participate in international volunteer work, but we also need more volunteers who are prepared and skilled. It is a matter of quality versus quantity," he said.
Wu said some youths sign up for volunteer work simply for the chance to travel or make their resumes more impressive.
"But even some of these people go home a changed person," Wu said.
Life-long humanitarian worker Wang Yueh-chun (
"It is not just the language barrier, but more of a personality trait. Taiwanese youths are usually more reserved when they are with people they don't know," she said.
Wu and Wang said volunteers must learn to be active in their roles in order for overseas volunteer service to grow.
Kelly Hsieh (
"It was very difficult at first to adjust to India because Taiwan is so clean and orderly by comparison. But I quickly learned to love that country. Being an overseas volunteer helped me see that there are things I can do as an individual to help the world become a better place and that Taiwan is really a wonderful place to live," she said.
Hsieh said she detests being labeled a "strawberry" -- a reference to the so-called "strawberry generation," a term that implies today's youth are pampered and unable to take care of themselves. She said her generation is actually quite tough when they get the chance to show off their abilities.
"We don't mind rolling up our sleeves and getting dirty. We can go without a shower and the Internet. But we just need people to believe in us," she said.
Abby Hsu (
"I haven't gone yet, but I want to go to a developing country some day. I want to serve, but I also want to have things to talk about with my friends. Their enthusiasm and compassion is contagious," she said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS