**64 Taiwan Youth Cultural Ambassadors Conclude Training in San Francisco**
On June 23rd, the closing ceremony of the FASCA new student training event in the San Francisco Bay Area was held at the South Bay. A total of 64 new and experienced trainees will serve as Taiwan Youth Cultural Ambassadors and engage in various community services in the coming year.
The Overseas Chinese Education Center in the South Bay organized a three-day “Overseas Youth Cultural Ambassador (FASCA) New Student Training” from June 21st to 23rd. This training program had 64 participants, including 51 new students and 13 returning students.
The training program focused on four main themes: leadership, service, culture, and heritage. The curriculum included cultural volunteer training, Taiwan cultural experiences and practical activities, team building and leadership development, as well as FASCA empowerment training.
Deputy Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Zhu Yongchang, Director of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, Zhuang Yashu, Overseas Community Affairs Commissioner Li Hanwen, Li Wenxiong, and other community leaders, along with about 200 students and parents, attended the achievement exhibition.
Zhu Yongchang congratulated the students on officially becoming Youth Cultural Ambassadors after the three-day training. He mentioned that FASCA is an important opportunity to strengthen the connection between young overseas Taiwanese and Taiwan. The preservation of culture requires long-term cultivation, and he encouraged the students to take pride in being Youth Cultural Ambassadors, hoping that they will deepen their understanding and promotion of Taiwanese culture in the future.
Zhuang Yashu stated that the establishment of Overseas Youth Cultural Volunteer Ambassadors aims to unite young overseas Taiwanese. She emphasized that while an individual can move fast, a group can go further. She hopes that all FASCA members can become the best partners in academic and career development in the future. She also mentioned that today’s training is just the beginning, and there will be many activities in the next year where mentors will lead the children in their growth.
The training was led by the Executive Director of the Wisdom Education Foundation, Lai Meizhi, and her team of instructors.
During the closing exhibition, the students showcased what they had learned over the three days, including the FASCA Ambassador dance “Perfect World,” branch dance “Best Day,” discussions on cultural ambassador paradigms, and the teachers’ evaluations of the students’ assignments. These exciting performances received enthusiastic applause from the parents.
At the closing ceremony, the students took an oath to become FASCA Ambassadors, and the dignitaries presented flags to each FASCA team. These teams were named after symbols of Taiwan, such as Taipei 101 Team, Phoenix Butterfly Team, Blue Magpie Team, Tree Frog Team, Formosan Sika Deer Team, and Formosan Black Bear Team. With the cheers of the teams echoing, the young students showcased their enthusiasm and energy.
Lastly, Zhu Yongchang, on behalf of the Overseas Community Affairs Commission, presented certificates of merit to the FASCA seniors, while Director Zhuang Yashu awarded certificates of appreciation to the teachers.
The “Overseas Youth Cultural Ambassador (FASCA) New Student Training” program is an important initiative to unite young overseas Taiwanese by the Overseas Community Affairs Commission.
This year, the Overseas Community Affairs Commission organized the “Overseas Youth Cultural Ambassador (FASCA) New Student Training” in 16 cities in North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The new participants in the training were all 14 to 17-year-old Taiwanese youth.