The “Overseas Chinese Student Association of the Republic of China in the Eastern United States”, composed of students studying in Taiwan, held a ceremony on January 5th at the Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Center in New York to donate scholarships to students. They donated 70,000 New Taiwan Dollars to the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China, which will be distributed to 14 selected students studying in Taiwan.
President Zhang Zijie stated that the association has been donating scholarships to overseas students since 2009, and the 70,000 New Taiwan Dollars raised in 2024 will be distributed to 14 students, with each receiving 5,000 New Taiwan Dollars. While the amount may not be significant, for financially disadvantaged students, this money can help cover living expenses and serves as a great form of care and encouragement for them. Members of the Overseas Chinese Student Association were beneficiaries of the Republic of China’s overseas student program in the past, and today they are giving back to the program to ensure the continuous support and benefit for more overseas students.
Last year, scholarship recipients of overseas students all expressed their gratitude through thank-you cards. Malaysian student Zhang Xingjing wrote a letter to Chairman Xu Jiaqing of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, thanking, “This scholarship will greatly alleviate my financial burden and be a driving force for me to continue achieving outstanding academic results. It provides an opportunity to lighten the family’s financial burden… and motivates me to cherish and strive harder.” Taiwanese student Cai Yiwen, studying at Taipei University, expressed gratitude to the “Eastern United States Overseas Chinese Student Association”, calling the money a “timely rain” that has eased her financial burden, allowing her to focus on her studies without worrying too much about tuition and living expenses. She promised to appreciate the scholarship and continue learning tirelessly, hoping to one day help students achieve their goals and dreams just like how she was helped.
Director Chen Yongfeng of the Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Center in New York mentioned that most overseas students come from Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. The Overseas Community Affairs Council has recently launched the “3+4 Industry-Education Collaboration Overseas Student Class” which combines education with industry internships, providing overseas Chinese youth with the opportunity to receive vocational education in Taiwan and employment, meeting the demand for technical talents in Taiwan’s industries.
Chen Yongfeng highlighted that in the “3+4 plan”, students can work while studying, making it easier for them to stay in Taiwan in the future. This initiative has been well-received by overseas students, leading to a substantial increase in the number of students participating in the “3+4 plan” in recent years.