Through the “Youth Trekker’s Wanted” campaign, the National Youth Commission (NYC) has over the past three years awarded travel funds to nearly 50 youths from around the world to help them achieve their travel dreams in Taiwan. NYC is again welcoming international youth to Taiwan for the 4th “Youth Trekker’s Wanted Campaign”. Applications must be submitted by December 11th, 2011. We encourage all international youths aged 18~30 (between Jan 1st, 1981 ~ Dec 31, 1993) who love to travel and share the traveling experiences to submit their itinerary of Taiwan for consideration. Submitted itineraries must be 10 days or longer, center on a theme chosen by the applicant with travel passion. Once completed, please upload your itineraries to our official website. We will award the best 20 entrants with US$2,000 ~ US$3,000, good toward making your Taiwan dream trips come true!

Four 3rd “Youth Trekkers Wanted” campaign finalists came from Hong Kong. Xiaofen Yu, Li Ying, Gabrielle Fong and Kelvin Lai all submitted distinct itineraries. Xiaofen had been to Taiwan four times. She had been to Taiwan especially for concerts twice. During her sixteen-day trek, she experienced the other kind of music festivals besides concerts, including XXXX, the aboriginal harvest festival, Live House performance, Pub performance in Tuehua village in Taitung and the R.O.C. centenary celebrating concert along the seaside in Danshui. Xiaofen also joined the aboriginal performance four times in Taitung including Amis’ and Peinen villa’s “Tamalakao” harvest festival, hot air balloon performance in Luye and “Makapahay” carnival in Taitung. She’s amazed by native Taiwanese’s good voice and dancing. Besides, native Taiwanese’s optimism to life also touched Xiaofen very much.
The second finalist, Li Ying, is an avid backpacker who loves traveling. After the trip to the southern ocean paradise—Kenting, she has always dreamed to leave the crowded city. She joined a volunteer activity in an organic farm which she could exchange board and lodging with working. She experienced the real version of “Happy Farm” and felt the temperature of sand with her feet. Li Ying said, she always got confused of weeds and corps at the beginning, and struggling with weeds, bugs and sand everyday. But after tasting the most fresh organic vegetables and fruits, she felt everything she has done is worth it. Her body is much more healthy as well.

The last finalist, Gabrielle Fong, traveled Taiwan with collecting smiles. She experienced Taiwan with laughter and brought the happiness to every corner. During the journey, she felt Taiwan people’s earthiness and sincere. Despite the passersby or even the shopkeepers she met in the journey, they all looked her as their friends from afar. They helped her to experience the most plentiful and local life in Taiwan with her limited money and time. That’s why her Taiwan trip was always full of warmth.
Kelvin Lai, the only backpacker from Hong Kong, who loves to travel, art and photography. He had once met a leather artist in Kenting on his Taiwan trip with friends. And he had fallen in love with handmade leather since after that. Through this trek activity in Taiwan, he traveled around the island and visited several leather artists who lives in obscurity in Taipei, Taichung, Kaoshiung and Hualian to experience the unique Taiwanese handicraft.

Rich culture … Lovely scenery … Friendly people. Would you like a grand tour of Taiwan? Enjoy your Taiwan holiday in your own creative way!

Please visit our official activity website: http://youthtravel.tw/youthtrekker for more details.
Gabrielle Fong made a friend of ethnic Ami Ah-Chiang in Pingtung during her trip around the island.
Taiwan leather artists helped Kelvin Lai from Hong Kong hone his leatherworking skills.