Tianhe Youth Empowerment Program Marks 7 Years, Awarding Over 2,800 Youths

(CNA Reporter Chiang Mei-hsin Taipei, July 2nd) To alleviate the financial burden on young students and recent graduates, the Tianhe Foundation launched the "Youth Empowerment, Million Blessings" Service-Learning Incentive Program in 2019. The program encourages young people burdened by student loans to engage in public service, offering an award of NT$16,000 to eligible applicants. Over the past seven years, more than 2,800 youths have successfully received this award.

The Tianhe Foundation announced today that applications for the Tianhe Youth Empowerment Program open on July 1st. Applicants can apply if they volunteer at partner social welfare organizations between November 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.

In recent years, the global economy has experienced drastic fluctuations. Not only has the growing awareness of environmental protection and carbon reduction increased supply chain costs, but the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have also impacted food and energy exports. These factors have led to persistent inflation worldwide, and Taiwan is no exception. For young students and recent graduates, after deducting student loans, rent, and daily expenses due to high prices, there is little room to improve their quality of life or enhance their skills.

To ease the economic pressure on young people, the Tianhe Foundation initiated the Service-Learning Incentive Program in 2019. It encourages university students and recent graduates who need to repay student loans to dedicate their time and effort to public service and caring for the disadvantaged while diligently studying or working. As they contribute to society, the Tianhe Foundation provides an award of NT$16,000 to alleviate their burden.

The Tianhe Foundation stated that over the past seven years, 2,818 volunteers have successfully received awards through the Youth Empowerment Program, creating many touching stories. Xiao Yu, a student majoring in special education, participated in services at the "Association for the Visually and Multiply Disabled" through the Tianhe Youth Empowerment Program. She shared that during her volunteer work, she was able to integrate theory with practice to learn about the spirit of special education, which she found deeply meaningful.

Xiao Chen, a volunteer at the "Care Foundation," expressed gratitude to the Tianhe Youth Empowerment Program for providing service opportunities. Despite experiencing imbalance in her own family of origin, she now has the ability to help these children as an adult, which she feels has filled her past regrets. Xiao Yan, a volunteer with "Old Shoes, Save Lives," gratefully remarked that the touching aspect of the Tianhe Youth Empowerment Program is its simultaneous consideration for both service organizations and participants, allowing social resources to be utilized more effectively. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 0702

Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom.

Download CNA's "One-Stop News" APP to get the latest information in real-time.

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.