Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

The Department for Youth of Taipei City Government has officially launched its 2025 Overseas Volunteer Program, establishing a structured selection and training system beginning in 2024 to build a sustainable overseas service model. The program includes open recruitment, workshops, interviews, and project evaluations. Volunteers receive intensive training covering topics such as service ethics, cross-cultural understanding, and documentary storytelling, empowering them not only as participants but also as global connectors. 

Commissioner Chou stated, “Participating in overseas volunteering is not only about seeing the world—it’s about forging sincere connections, developing resilience through challenges, and finding one’s direction through service.” The Department for Youth hopes the initiative will enhance young people’s sensitivity to global issues and cultivate a generation of globally minded, action-oriented citizens.

This year, three overseas volunteer teams are scheduled to depart. The Vietnam team left on May 26 to support a vocational school for youth with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, offering art-based companionship, cultural exchange, and improvements to gardening. The Thailand team will travel in June to a Chinese-language school in Chiang Rai, concentrating on Mandarin instruction, health education, and environmental awareness. In August, the Philippines team will assist elementary schools in Manila with educational support and enhancements to classroom space. Each service plan was developed in response to local needs, highlighting responsiveness and deep engagement.

The Department for Youth expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families in Vietnam, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City, Dao Ji Chinese School in Thailand, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila for their invaluable support. Moving forward, the Department will continue to enhance international partnerships to provide more young people with the opportunity to engage with the world.