This has always been true. Nevertheless, in the economically uncertain times during the 1950s to 1980s, before the country started to enjoy the fruits of industrialization and modernization, young people's choices of recreation were few and related resources were scarce. For all but an elite handful, going abroad was out of the question; even traveling around their own island, never mind outlying islands such as Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, was a luxury many could not afford. For most, the best opportunity was to enroll for an activity under the auspices of the China Youth Corps.
Walking across the Central Cross-Island Highway, skiing on Hehuan Mountain, visiting the front-line military camps on Kinmen or riding bicycles along the beautiful Pacific seashore highway from Taitung County to Hualien County were among the top choices.
Applicants were many and opportunities few, recalled Wilma Chou July 13. Now a translator at the Government Information Office--the agency that publishes this newspaper--Chou participated in a cross-island hike as a 17-year-old student in the winter of 1991. "Those activities were very popular," she said. "I still remember clearly how we were asked to clean the dishes after each meal with freezing mountain water. It was a great experience."
College students who were outstanding at performing arts or foreign languages had the chance to be members of the College and University Youth Goodwill Mission. If selected after a series of tests, they visited countries around the world.
The CYC was founded in 1952 by Chiang Ching-kuo, eldest son of President Chiang Kai-shek, three years after the Kuomintang-led government retreated from China. Chiang Ching-kuo continued to lead the organization until 1974.
The corps was based on a patriotic idea, explained CYC Secretary-General Wang Fu-shen July 10 at the organization's Taipei headquarters. "The Kuomintang had learned its lesson for not paying enough attention to youngsters in China, which partially explained the defeat there," Wang admitted. "Consequently, the goal of the corps has always been 'we serve the youth, so that the youth will serve the country.' That remains unchanged," he stressed.
Other changes to the organization were necessary, however, as the country became more democratic and government spending was scrutinized more closely. Having served millions of young people over more than half a century, the CYC found it ever harder to adapt to the changing social and economic conditions of the late 20th century--when per capita income had risen from US$360 in 1949 to around US$14,000--and the changed political scene of the early 21st century.
Nevertheless, it hoped to make such necessary changes and stand up proudly as a nonprofit organization to serve another million more in the future, Wang said.
In particular, the corps had to learn to forego the governmental support it once enjoyed. "Like everyone else, we have to participate in the bidding process to win government projects now," Hans Chien, director of the CYC Activities Department, said July 10, pointing to the difficulties currently faced. Since it does not always win the projects, the corps cannot afford to maintain as large a staff as it might want. Chien gave as an example the Overseas Chinese Youth Study Tour to Taiwan, which invites foreign college students of Han Chinese origin to visit Taiwan to understand it better and to exchange ideas with locals. The project's budget comes from the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission, so even though the CYC previously ran the OCYSTT for more than four decades, it must still make sure its tender provides the best service at the lowest price.
Li Tchong-koei, CYC president from 1987 to 2005, is credited with making many changes that prevented the corps' situation from becoming even worse, Chen Chia-hsiu, inspector of the CYC Secretarial Department said July 11. Li reformed its financial structure, restructured its internal organization, and consolidated and modernized operation of its Youth Activity Centers at 12 major scenic spots, including the Sun Moon Lake, Chitou and Kenting on Taiwan proper, as well as those on the outlying Kinmen and Penghu islands.
Li also expanded the CYC's "Teacher Chang" youth counseling service--set up in 1969 as the island's first--by recruiting more volunteers, and, most important of all, she redefined the organization's role as "a juridical association engaged in education, service and public interest," and registered it with the Ministry of the Interior as such. This definition dissociated the corps from any political influences and made it independent, financially and otherwise, Chen noted.
While the 12 activity centers might not host as many young people as they would like, their excellent locations provide backpackers from around the world the chance to appreciate Taiwan's scenic beauty at budget prices not exceeding US$25 per bed per night. The College and University Youth Goodwill Mission might be a thing of the past, but the English-study tours to top schools in New York, Los Angeles and Singapore organized by the corps are still in high demand, according to Chien.
Even though students might not be as interested as those of their parents' generation, activities are still held during every winter and summer break, with more than 130,000 young people participating in 2006, compared with up to one million per year two decades ago, Chien said.
For many CYC staff members, such decline is understandable, if not inevitable. "We now have outside competition, so all branches, youth activity centers and other businesses, such as our two travel agencies and publishing firm, have to sustain their own operations," said Chen. "We must always think of something new to attract young people and bid for more government projects," she added.
So far, the corps has added seven new projects, running services for central and local governments. These include the Bureau of Health Promotion's Anti-smoking Service Center; Taipei City Government's Teenagers Recreational Center, Nangang Sports Center and Zhongshan Sports Center; Taoyuan County Government's Teenagers Activity Center and Shihmen Mountain Youth Activity Center; and the Hsinchu Teenagers Hall, which provides young people with psychological assistance.
Despite the challenges the CYC is facing, Li said July 16 she hoped "the corps will always stay ahead of the times to help young people, accept the test of the times and become Taiwan people's favorite nonprofit organization."
Write to Alexander Chou at alexchou@mail.gio.gov.tw