Taipei City Government

Taipei’s youth have brought warmth and hope to indigenous communities in the Philippines! The first overseas volunteer delegation of 2026 to the Philippines, organized under the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government’s Overseas Volunteer Program, returned to Taiwan in late June after completing a 12-day service mission. Comprising ten enthusiastic and skilled youth volunteers, the delegation focused on educational support, cultural exchange, health education, artistic creation, and digital literacy in the Aeta community of Floridablanca, Pampanga. During the visit, members of the delegation also traveled for the first time to Quezon City, one of Taipei’s sister cities, for cultural exchange activities, demonstrating how volunteer service can strengthen the friendship between the two cities.

According to the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government, the Overseas Volunteer Program aims to encourage young people to step outside their comfort zones, explore different aspects of the world through international volunteer service, and discover their own value while addressing local needs. This year marked Taipei’s second youth volunteer mission in Floridablanca, Pampanga. In addition to continuing its partnership with Camachile Elementary School, the program added Nabuclod Integrated School to its partner list. Lillian Chen, the head of the delegation and Subdivision Chief of the Global Engagement Division under the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government, also met with Vice Mayor Allan Policarpio to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Through volunteer service with the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government strives to build friendships with other cities while enabling volunteers to profoundly experience the transformative power of education and service, demonstrating an alternative form of international diplomacy for Taipei.

Apart from classroom activities, the volunteers worked alongside local schools to create a more welcoming learning environment. By integrating the English alphabet, numbers, and everyday vocabulary into campus murals and desk designs, they transformed ordinary school corners into colorful, engaging spaces for learning English. These efforts aim to inspire students to boldly explore a broader world throughout their educational journey. Following the delegation to the Philippines, other volunteer delegations will travel to Thailand and Vietnam in late July and mid-August, ensuring that Taipei’s youth continue to connect with the world through the power of service.

This year’s delegation also made its first visit to Quezon City, Taipei’s sister city in the Philippines, where volunteers engaged in exchanges with students from Miriam College and members of the Pook Libis community. As the visit coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival, the youth volunteers from Taipei introduced the cultural significance of dragon boat racing and showed Filipino youths how to make traditional scented sachets. In return, their Filipino partners organized traditional games, providing opportunities for youth from both sides to learn about each other’s cultures and daily lives amid laughter. Later, the volunteers and local youth visited the Pook Libis community together, where community leaders presented local development initiatives. The volunteers then designed digital literacy courses for children in the community to help them build foundational concepts of safe Internet use. Through these volunteer services, the youth gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs faced by different social groups.

Casper, the leader of the delegation to the Philippines, noted that the children maintained their innocence and enthusiasm despite living with limited resources. They would cheer for a heavy rain or smile brightly because of a single balloon, reminding the volunteers of the profound strength found in simplicity and sincerity. He added that the volunteer experience allowed him to witness the children’s pure vitality and resilience, prompting him to rethink the meaning of happiness and companionship. He deeply appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Overseas Volunteer Program, which broadened his perspective on the world.

Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou of the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government, expressed her gratitude to the Department of Education, Schools Division Office of Pampanga, Camachile Elementary School, Nabuclod Integrated School, Miriam College, Aguman Kapampangan, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, and other partners for their immense support. Their partnership enabled Taipei’s youth to engage with local communities, respond to their needs through meaningful action, and build invaluable international friendships during these exchanges.

The Overseas Volunteer Program represents a journey of growth through which young people discover the world, better understand themselves, and put civic engagement into practice. Moving forward, the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government will continue to help more young people take their first steps into international volunteer service by providing comprehensive training, resources, and global cooperation networks. Through these efforts, the Department for Youth, Taipei City Government hopes to ensure that every act of kindness transcends borders while showing the world how Taipei’s youth turn compassion into action and drive change through service.