A promotional image encapsulates the spirit of international exchanges and social engagement advanced by YGAP among young adults in Taiwan. (Courtesy of Youth Development Administration)
 

The Ministry of Education’s Youth Global Action Plan is affording young adults the chance to learn from other countries’ best practices and promote social change in Taiwan.

Launched in 2018, YGAP sends small groups of participants aged 18 to 35 abroad to gain front-line experience in international organizations focused on realizing U.N. Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to education, gender equality and resilient communities.

Jean Wang, a plan administrator, said YGAP assists younger generations gain global perspective while formulating viable solutions to present-day and emerging social problems. The overarching goal is to inspire the leaders of tomorrow to immerse themselves in globally centered cultural, economic, political and social events, she added.

According to Wang, it is reassuring to see YGAP participants return to Taiwan brimming with creativity and an unshakeable belief in the benefits of root-and-branch community engagement. One example, she said, is Valanyoung—a group formed by seven members from the country’s indigenous tribes.
 

Valanyoung members visit New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute during a fact-finding tour to the South Pacific nation. (Courtesy of Su Hsin)
 

Headed by Tiamuy Kadangilran of the Pinuyumayan people, the group made an 11-day trip to New Zealand last year. The itinerary included visits to a dozen institutions committed to supporting Maori art, culture, education, employment, history and rights.

Upon returning to Taiwan, Valanyoung members devised the Accompany You Home action plan. One of its components involves visiting local communities to share newly gained knowledge and insights.

Last November, Kadangilran led 14 other young indigenous people to her hometown Kasavakan in southeastern Taiwan’s Taitung County. Growing up with limited exposure to the customs and traditions of the Pinuyumayan, Kadangilran said the experience proved as enlightening to her as it was for her fellow travelers.
 

Smiles all round are the order of the day at a cultural experience sharing booth run by Valanyoung members at community bazaar in southeastern Taiwan’s Taitung County. (Courtesy of Unwoods Adok)
 

During the three-day trip, the group learned about Pinuyumayan ceremonial song and dance, as well as traditional cooking, farming and wreath-weaving techniques.

Kadangilran said delving into local practices for the first time inspired her to reflect on tribal cultural identity and values. By sharing this journey with others, it can contribute to deepening understanding of the rich traditions of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, she added.

YGAP’s value as a driver of positive social engagement and change in Taiwan is agreed by all Valanyoung members. The New Zealand adventure was an illuminating experience, Kadangilran said, adding that participants were deeply grateful for the opportunity to interact with Maoris.

The confidence of these Austronesian-speaking people opened the eyes of the group to an array of cultural development and enrichment possibilities, Kadangilran said. There is now a real desire to preserve and revitalize the indigenous cultures of Taiwan. (E) (By Kelly Her)
 

Young indigenous adults learn wreath-weaving techniques from the Pinuyumayan people of Kasavakan. (Courtesy of Masako Wang)
 

(This article is adapted from Learning from Experience in the May/June 2020 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)