Taiwan Today

The Taiwan Youth Overseas Service is fostering local talent and strengthening cooperation projects in partner nations around the world.

Summer warmth was just beginning to set in when Huang Chi-chang (黃啟彰‬) stepped off a plane in the Kingdom of Eswatini last October to start his national service. Instead of learning to march in file or man a machine gun, the 27-year-old was tasked with supporting the nation’s overseas cooperation programs. He was assigned to a Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) project in the African ally aimed at training local pig farmers in breeding, nutrition and management practices.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel very lucky to have this chance to share my expertise and explore a new culture,” said Huang, who earned a master’s degree in animal science and technology from National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei City. “I’m determined to make the best use of my time here by introducing modern techniques and learning new skills from the other TTM specialists.”

The Eswatini project is overseen by International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). Since 2001, the country’s foremost foreign aid organization has been charged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with managing the Taiwan Youth Overseas Service (TYOS), originally called Overseas Substitute Service.

In Taiwan, all men between the ages of 19 and 36 must perform national service for up to one year. While most join the military, draftees with specialized training can apply to assist the nation’s medical and technical cooperation missions in 18 countries spanning Africa, the Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America. Around 1,420 young men have been selected for this alternative overseas service as of January.

Participants are chosen based on their educational background and skills, the needs of partner countries and a lottery. Before departing, they need to complete four weeks of intensive instruction in foreign customs, languages, protocol and other relevant subjects at a TaiwanICDF center in Taipei.

“The program aims to broaden the perspectives of Taiwan’s young people, boost the country’s international cooperation projects, nurture talent and promote civilian diplomacy,” TaiwanICDF Secretary-General Timothy T. Y. Hsiang (項恬毅‬) said. Young service members can learn a lot from working side by side with mission chiefs and technicians and meeting people from different cultures, he added.

Running the Gamut

To accommodate the distinct needs and requests of partner nations, TaiwanICDF cooperation projects have become increasingly diverse in recent years. Initiatives now cover areas ranging from agriculture, health care, hydraulic engineering and information and communication technology to agribusiness, education, environmental protection, geographic information systems and industrial design. According to Hsiang, this has provided opportunities for young people from more varied academic backgrounds to take part in the alternative service program.

“With their creativity and enthusiasm, young draftees can augment our organization’s efforts to advance development,” Hsiang said. “Working at the grassroots level also allows them to build relationships and promote mutual understanding.”

When serving as ambassador to Taiwan’s Pacific ally Nauru from 2011 to 2014, Hsiang witnessed how the TYOS initiative can enrich participants’ personal and professional growth. They became more confident and mature, and quickly began learning the local language, he said.

The overseas service program has proved an ideal training ground for young technicians, providing them with diplomatic and practical experience that can be put to use in advancing Taiwan’s global outreach initiatives. Around 35 percent of alternative service members go on to become full-time TaiwanICDF staffers.

New Horizons

One such draftee-turned-foreign aid worker is Su Hsien-tsang (蘇信彰‬), chief of the TTM in Ecuador. He signed up for the inaugural year of the overseas service program in 2001 after graduating with a master’s in aquaculture from National Taiwan Ocean University in the northern city of Keelung. His assignment was to support a tilapia fry breeding project in Central American ally Honduras. “Living as a local and helping fish farmers improve their practices was a really fulfilling experience,” Su said. The opportunity to expand his skill set into new areas such as animal husbandry, horticulture and fruit and vegetable farming was a major motivation behind his decision to pursue a career in development assistance, he added.

In 2005, Su landed a job as a technician at TaiwanICDF and was again dispatched to Central America, this time El Salvador. He worked there for 10 years on aquaculture projects, steadily advancing from technician to specialist and finally project manager. He was reassigned to Ecuador in 2017. “I love my job because it taps into my abilities, interests and values,” he said. “Not only do I get to serve my country, but I also help people in partner nations.”

According to Su, the role of TTM specialists has changed in line with the broadening in scope of Taiwan’s overseas cooperation initiatives. As current projects often span the entire production chain from upstream R&D to downstream logistics and consumer marketing, staffers have had to expand their fields of expertise.

“In the process of starting a new project from scratch and helping smallholder farmers acquire the skills needed to increase production and profits, I’ve overcome numerous obstacles and strengthened my abilities,” Su said. “These experiences have boosted my self-confidence, enabling me to handle complex situations.”

Healthy Respect

Some of the most impactful work undertaken by Taiwan’s overseas service members is in the realm of disease control and prevention. Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞), also among the first batch of alternative service personnel, was sent to Malawi in 2001 after graduating from NTU’s College of Medicine. Now deputy director-general of the Centers for Disease Control under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, he said the mission cemented his interest in public health.

“Serving in the African country was life-changing,” Lo said. “The trip allowed me to gain firsthand experience in various infectious and tropical diseases impacting global health, something I couldn’t get in Taiwan.”

Lo recalled that before leaving for the assignment, he had to persuade his parents to give him their blessing, as they were worried about living conditions in the country. “I told them it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone.”

In Malawi, Lo worked with other members of the medical mission at Mzuzu Central Hospital, which Taiwan helped establish in the country’s northern region. At the time, it was home to some 20 Taiwan health care professionals with expertise in internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery. In addition to providing patient care, they helped train local staff and organized campaigns and workshops to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, which was severely impacting the country.

According to Lo, poor public health knowledge and a lack of medications made tackling the HIV/AIDS crisis extremely challenging and distressing. “We did everything we could to promote awareness and prevention,” he said, adding that significant gains have been made in Malawi since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy.

Witnessing the plight of those with HIV/AIDS-related illnesses propelled Lo to seek specialty training in the infectious diseases division at NTU Hospital upon returning home. In recent years, Taiwan has made major advances in the diagnosis, treatment and control of HIV/AIDS as well as other infectious diseases like dengue, hepatitis, influenza and tuberculosis thanks to the expertise of health care professionals like Lo.

“If I hadn’t gone to Malawi, I might not have opted to focus on disease control afterward,” he said. “I’m happy that what I’ve been doing all these years still relates to my experience in Africa.”

Current participant Huang seems similarly inspired by his involvement in the program. After completing alternative service in August, he intends to apply for a job as a TaiwanICDF technician with an eye on returning to the TTM in Eswatini.

“It’s still quite common to see locals raising a few hogs at home to supplement their income just like people did in Taiwan several decades ago,” Huang said. “The aim of the TTM project is to help develop pig farming into a viable industry through achieving economies of scale. This is a challenging and meaningful mission, and I’m proud to play a role.”

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw