Taipei: A group of 40 Taiwanese students aged 18 to 35 will visit the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, and Guam later this month, as part of an annual government-funded youth ambassadorship program, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official said Tuesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chiang Zhen-wei, head of MOFA’s Department of NGO International Affairs, informed that the 40 youth ambassadors are currently undergoing mandatory two weeks of training before embarking on their 12-day trips from August 20 to 31. The group consists of 20 students selected for their proficiency in English and another 20 chosen for their talents in the performing arts or other exceptional skills.
During their visit to the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, and Guam, the student ambassadors will participate in people-to-people exchanges with local politicians and young residents. Their itinerary also includes volunteer work and music and dance performances, Chiang stated.
Chiang emphasized that the program aims to showcase Taiwanese culture through talent while promoting a cultural landscape and image of freedom, democracy, and openness. Since its inception in 2009, more than 1,800 Taiwanese undergraduate and graduate students have participated in the annual International Youth Ambassadors Program.
The Marshall Islands is one of the 12 countries worldwide that formally recognize the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan.