Organized by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), the highly anticipated Southeast Asia-South Asia-Taiwan (SEASAT) Youth Camp kicked off its 6th edition in Taipei today (24 July). Over the next 3 days, the Camp is set to take 39 delegates from over 10 countries through a series of engaging and transformative activities on geopolitics, digitalization, sustainability, human rights, and public participation.
The SEASAT Youth Camp brings together young leaders from across Asia to participate in a unique platform to collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop their leadership skills while immersing in an enriching cultural experience in Taiwan. After a rigorous selection process among over 300 applicants, a total of 39 delegates from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Cambodia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, and Taiwan made their way to the Camp, with a majority visiting Taiwan for the first time.
The delegates were welcomed by a line of distinguished guests during the opening ceremony today.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao of the TAEF, emphasized the significance of the event: “In a rapidly changing world, the need for innovative and visionary leadership has never been greater. The SEASAT Youth Camp is designed to empower young leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.”
Deputy Minister Chung-kwang Tien of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also showed support at the opening ceremony. He showed appreciation to the delegates’ dedication for joining the Camp under unfavourable weather conditions. He remarked that: “Under the idea of Comprehensive Diplomacy proposed by the incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, Taiwan will strengthen its resilience based on three pillars, namely value-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and diplomacy through economic and trade. Across these efforts, talent outreach will continue to be the key.”
With this year’s theme of “Enabling Youth in Shaping Future Asia,” Legislator Kuan-Ting Chen, who has made significant strides in his roles as an international think-tanker and a lawmaker at a young age, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on youth leadership. He highlighted that youth leadership in Taiwan has long been characterized by active political participation. Citing the recent debate over the reforms in the Legislative Yuan, he observed that the Generation Z’s presence is louder than ever, as also seen in other socio-political issues. He is hopeful that more young leaders around the world will engage in causes alike.
Over the next 3 days, the SEASAT Youth Camp delegates will engage in a variety of activities, including workshops, panel discussions, cultural exchanges, and team-building assignments. Through the activities, they will delve into important and thought-provoking topics such as unconventional diplomacy, digitalization, human rights, information integrity, and circular economy, guided by top-notch experts in the relevant fields.
The New Southbound Policy serves as a cornerstone of this initiative, aiming to promote economic collaboration, cultural exchange, and shared growth. By bringing together young leaders from diverse backgrounds, the SEASAT Youth Camp seeks to create a ripple effect that will inspire positive change and strengthen the bonds between Taiwan and its partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The TAEF extends our gratitude to the MOFA for their gracious support, as well as our co-organizers and network partners as follows: our co-organizers are National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Taiwan and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) of the National Chengchi University. Meanwhile, our network partners include the Asia New-Zealand Foundation, Pijar Foundation, Magsaysay Foundation, Unilab Foundation, Nippon Foundation, and the Democratic Progressive Party’s Department of International Affairs.
About the SEASAT Youth Camp
Organized every year since the TAEF’s establishment, the SEASAT Youth Camp recruits 40 outstanding young people, especially those in Asia, through a competitive selection process every year. It has the objective to enrich these young people in their familiarity with their Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Taiwanese neighbors with the hopes of promoting their synergy in addressing globally pressing issues, including democracy, gender, culture, environment, and innovation.
