Page 9 - YouthPower

In my day-to-day work, I have come to realize that young people often face far more challenges on their journey to pursue their dreams than we might imagine. Some might lack the funds needed to bring their creative ideas to life; some might lack experience and connections, or feel lost about their future direction; others may have the passion but are unable to realize their potential due to unequal access to resources. Every time I interact with young people, I am struck by their fervent enthusiasm and sense of helplessness. This contrast has only deepened my conviction that we must stand beside them with meaningful, substantive support.
Therefore, at the Youth Development Center, we deeply value the participation and voices of young people. Since 2019, we have invited youth representatives to participate in policy discussions and event planning, receiving 90 proposals from the Youth Advisory Committee to date. These insights have deepened our understanding of young people’s perspectives and needs, enabling policies that truly align with their aspirations. At the same time, we have also organized events like the Youth Dreamer Program, HSH National Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition, and Meet Pacific Hualien Startup Festival, leveraging resource integration to provide young people with more opportunities to learn, bring their creativity to life, and make industry connections.
In this issue, the Youth Development Center presents “Youth Power,” featuring 10 young entrepreneurs who are working hard in Hualien. They hail from diverse industries: some have built their brands from the ground up, others have transformed local traits into innovative products and services, while many have chosen to return home and dedicate their expertise to community development. Their stories may not be filled with dramatic legends, but every step of their journey is earnest and touching. We hope that the experiences of these young people will show those who are searching for direction that “dreams” can be more than imagination, and that they can take gradual steps to make their dreams come true. These stories are more than personal journeys of perseverance; they are a microcosm of Hualien’s collective youthful energy, embodying the new possibilities taking root in this city.
執行長 謹誌
Sincerely,
Huang Hsiao-Ying
Chief Executive Officer, Youth Development Center
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