To encourage young people to actively participate in community development, the Youth Development Administration of the Ministry of Education has launched the "Youth Community Engagement Action 2.0 - Changemaker Program". This initiative provides funding, mentorship, and collaborative learning resources to support youth involvement in local affairs. The 2025 program (Year 114 in Taiwan's calendar) is open for applications until March 18 at 12:00 PM. Interested participants can submit their proposals via the official program website (https://changemaker.yda.gov.tw). Additionally, two online briefing sessions will be held: on Saturday, February 22, at 2:00 PM and on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:00 PM, where past participants and panel judges will share key insights. Registration is encouraged.

The 2024 "Community as One Award" winner in the Actor category, Jiho Studio, was founded by Zeng Yuhuan, who started as a Dreamer under the support of the Youth Hub (Qing Ju Dian) initiative. Through this platform, he gained knowledge and hands-on experience in local community action. In 2023, Jiho Studio was formed and successfully applied to become an Actor team, leading an elderly companionship project in Fuhua Village, Shilin District, Taipei. They organized workshops to explore seniors' life stories, fostering intergenerational exchanges and documenting the everyday interactions between youth and the elderly.Jiho Studio team members take a group photo at the action site (from left to right: Zeng Yuhuan, Zhang Minru). (Image / Sourced from the Ministry of Education website)

Another 2024 "Community as One Award" recipient in the Actor category, Piao Shaonianjia, was founded by Yang Haojie, who started his journey at Youth Hub through hands-on fieldwork. As a vocational high school substitute teacher in Kinmen, he is dedicated to changing local perceptions of vocational education. His team guides students to use their professional skills to serve the community, such as teaching residents about car and motorcycle maintenance. This initiative not only highlights the expertise of vocational students but also helps them find self-worth through meaningful community engagement.
Shaonianjia guides vocational high school students in explaining the preparation work before providing external services. (Image / Sourced from the Ministry of Education website)

The Changemaker Program invites young people aged 18 to 35 to form teams of 2 to 5 members and propose action plans for their hometown, local communities, or social causes they care about. The Youth Development Administration continues to support youth through a structured progression&mdashfrom Dreamer to Actor, then Changemaker, ultimately becoming mentors in the Youth Hub to nurture future Dreamers in a sustainable development cycle.

For more details about the program, online briefing session registration, and application guidelines, please visit the official website: (https://changemaker.yda.gov.tw).