President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday officially launched a government program to fund young Taiwanese’s travel abroad for volunteer work, training or cross-cultural exchanges.
The Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative offers more than 800 opportunities this year for Taiwanese nationals aged 15 to 30 to travel overseas for two weeks to one year, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said at the launch in Taoyuan.
The program encourages young Taiwanese to “step out of their comfort zone” and take on challenges abroad, with the goal of “broadening their horizons” while promoting Taiwan and its values of freedom and democracy, Yeh said.
Photo: Chou Min-hung, Taipei Times
From the government’s perspective, young people play a crucial role in Taiwan’s sustainable development, and those with a global perspective and mindset would enhance the nation’s competitiveness on the international stage, he added.
The program, with the government pledging to provide NT$10 billion (US$306 million), is accepting applications and proposals until March 14, and again from May 1 to June 20.
It is a collaborative effort among government agencies to help young people with aspirations and courage to gain more overseas experience, Lai said.
By doing so, they would hopefully drive Taiwan’s progress and contribute to the international community, he said.
The initiative could be expanded to include young people from the nation’s 12 diplomatic allies, offering them additional opportunities to come to Taiwan for exchanges and training, he added.
The program currently covers 85 projects, providing 610 opportunities for overseas voluntary work, training, internship or other types of exchanges in various fields this year, the Ministry of Education said.
One of the projects is to select three students to go on a tour in Paris to gain insight into French politics by visiting the French parliament, the headquarters of the French newspaper Le Monde and other related sites, Yeh said.
Another initiative is to send 20 young people passionate about the entertainment industry to Seoul to receive training at the Bornstar Training Center, Yen said.
The ministry also aims to select 200 young people who are to receive up to NT$2 million in grants for their own proposals.
The program is to cover round-trip airfare, living expenses, insurance, visa fees and other costs incurred at home and abroad for those selected.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS