The Ministry of Education today opened an exhibition highlighting results from the first year of its Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, which supported 1,463 young people to pursue international education, internships and employment.
The exhibition is to run until Sunday at 1914 Huashan Creative Park in Taipei.
The opening ceremony featured program participants performing K-pop dances they learned in South Korea, while others prepared new dishes they learned to make while studying in Italy.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The program’s inaugural year saw 1,273 students participate in overseas internships via the iYouth Talent Program, while 190 joined the Dream Factory Program pursuing their own projects, the ministry said.
However, only 8 percent, or 126 students, came from disadvantaged, rural or indigenous backgrounds, it said.
In its second year, more than 300 additional slots would be added exclusively for disadvantaged youth and people from rural areas, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said.
President William Lai (賴清德) in his remarks said he has instructed agencies to better help young people access resources.
These include “Dream Support” measures planned by the Youth Development Administration to help disadvantaged youth access international opportunities through universities, civil groups and development programs, he said.
Lai said the program was inspired by reflections he had after watching the documentary Go Grandriders (不老騎士) of dreams he had as a young person, but never pursued.
He said that he hopes young people can visit the exhibition to gain inspiration from others and feel encouraged to reach their goals, while parents can see that their children are capable of pursuing opportunities abroad.
He also encouraged teachers to attend, as they best understand their students’ strengths and interests.
Cheng said that he hopes the program would give young people real opportunities to experience different countries and cultures, and engage with global issues.
The Annual Flagship Program, for example, supports young people entering fields related to climate change and environmental sustainability, he added.
About 96.7 percent of participants reported receiving substantial support throughout the project, indicating that resources are reaching those who need them, he said.
Cheng said he was particularly moved when one returning participant said that “resources should not only go to those at the front of the line. Those who fall behind or go slower deserve to be seen, too.”
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