The 2025 Senior FASCA Training and Exchange Event in the American West Region, organized by the Taiwan Overseas Community Affairs Council, took place from June 15th to June 17th at the Jinshan Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center, gathering outstanding students from FASCA branches across the West Coast of North America. The event kicked off with an opening ceremony on the morning of the 15th, chaired by the director of the Jinshan Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center, Zhuang Yashu.
Since its launch in 2011, the FASCA program has established 20 branches worldwide, nurturing over 5,000 young participants. In order to further strengthen the leadership of these branches, the Overseas Community Affairs Council has been promoting the Senior FASCA system since 2021, providing advanced training to assist in the sustainable development of local branches.
On the day of the training, a total of 29 students from Seattle, Orange County, the San Francisco Bay Area, Vancouver, and Los Angeles gathered together. This training session marks the second time that the Jinshan Bay Area has hosted the Senior FASCA Training and Exchange Event for the American West Region.
Zhuang Yashu expressed to The Epoch Times that the role of youth affairs within overseas communities is becoming increasingly important, especially as these communities face generational transitions. Guiding the second generation of Taiwan-Americans to actively engage in the overseas Chinese community is a crucial current issue. These young people, who have grown up locally, not only possess advantages in language and culture but also have the potential to bridge the overseas Chinese community with mainstream society.
Utilizing their strengths effectively can contribute to advancing community service, strengthening the capabilities of the overseas Chinese community, and promoting Taiwan to the world. To this end, the Overseas Community Affairs Council actively promotes the “Move to Next Generation” program, cultivating second and third-generation youths who possess both localized and global perspectives, serving as the backbone for the inheritance and promotion of Taiwanese culture within overseas communities.
The three-day training course covers a diverse range of topics including leadership, organizational management practices, FASCA operations sharing, Taiwanese cultural courses, local city exploration activities, and emphasizes the development of Senior FASCA’s role awareness and practical leadership abilities. The course is conducted in a lively and interactive manner, aiming to strengthen the ability of students to lead youth and serve the community within their respective branches.
Director Zhuang also mentioned that the closing ceremony will showcase the learning outcomes of the students over the three days. Students will present creative proposals for branch management and community service, which will be reviewed by 11 professional judges, including overseas Chinese affairs commissioners from Silicon Valley, venture capital experts, and foundation representatives. This aims to enhance the practical capabilities and community connections of the students. She hopes that young people will make good use of the FASCA platform, deepen their identification with Taiwan, leverage their local advantages, and become important bridges connecting the overseas Chinese community with mainstream society.