Sustainable Development Goals

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Reported by Hung Mei-hsiu, Hsinchu

2026/05/20 14:11


At the 20th anniversary of National Tsing Hua University’s International Volunteer Program, 51 students will travel this summer in five teams to six countries across Asia and Africa — Nepal, Vietnam, Kenya, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Tanzania — to provide information technology, health, and educational services.

In addition to continuing digital education initiatives in Africa, the teams will establish a computer classroom in Kibera, Kenya, collaborate with a girls’ shelter center in Eswatini, promote Mandarin courses in Nepal, and support Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Through concrete actions and service, NTHU students continue to demonstrate their commitment to international engagement and social impact.

NTHU Vice President Da-Ren Yen noted that since the establishment of the International Volunteer Program, 920 students have participated in services across 11 countries, reaching nearly 100 schools and institutions. The program has helped build more than 70 computer classrooms and benefited over 58,000 people, showcasing the university’s long-term dedication to global service and student leadership.

This year, the Africa teams will continue promoting information technology education, while the Vietnam and Nepal pioneer teams will focus on special education, Mandarin instruction, and science education. Yen encouraged students to remember that the essence of international volunteering lies not only in “what we bring,” but in “whether we are willing to understand what local communities truly need.”

The Nepal pioneer team will focus on Mandarin education, serving two schools in Kathmandu and one school in Pokhara. The team plans to pilot Mandarin courses integrated with Google Classroom to establish an 18-week asynchronous online learning model.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam pioneer team is the first Taiwanese university volunteer group to serve Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. The team will work with the Kianh Foundation in Hoi An and the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange to promote recycled-paper notebook workshops, international cultural exchange, and disaster prevention education.

This year, the three Africa teams collected 305 refurbished computers. Their services will expand beyond basic digital education to include community outreach, cybersecurity awareness, AI media literacy, and local teacher training.

For the first time, the Eswatini team will collaborate with the Sight of Hope girls’ shelter center, which houses around 55 girls who have experienced sexual exploitation or domestic violence. The volunteers will assist the girls in rebuilding their lives while also providing information technology education services.

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