Taiwan Youth Leadership | Mandarin, Leadership & Social Impact Program

Taiwan Youth Leadership Summer 2026

Taiwan Youth Leadership continues its mission to help young people discover Taiwan, reach their potential, and make a positive difference. This year’s program introduces two powerful new service themes, deeper community engagement, and a new nonprofit partnership, giving youth an even more meaningful way to learn, grow, and lead.

Session 1: Thrift for Good
In this session, young leaders will design and launch a real pop-up thrift shop to support a nonprofit of their choice in Taiwan. They will learn how to build a business plan, visit local thrift shops for inspiration and guidance, source goods, and create a marketing and promotion plan. The session concludes with the execution of their own Thrift for Good pop-up event, where proceeds will directly benefit a local NGO. Participants will also join a beach cleaning activity to better understand environmental stewardship. All students will receive a certificate for ten hours of community service.

Session 2: Sustainability For Good
The second session focuses on two remarkable nonprofit partners. First, young leaders will collaborate with Step30, a non-profit that collect used shoes and sneakers for children in Kenya. They will plan and promote a shoe collection event on the street, visit the Step30 warehouse to sort donations, and meet Step30’s founder to learn about the mission and purpose behind the program. During the second week, participants will travel to Chiayi to work with an inspiring community leader, Mr. Huang Jin-shan, who left his career in Taipei to open Ming Hsiung second-hand bookstore and provide free tutoring and free meals for children in an underprivileged neighborhood. Young leaders will spend time in the bookstore, learn about his journey, and engage directly with the children he serves. Participants will receive twenty hours of community service for this session.

We are proud to share that partial proceeds from Taiwan Youth Leadership are donated to our non-profit partners. Taiwan Youth Leadership offers international youth a rare opportunity to learn Mandarin, understand the social issues shaping Taiwan, and learn from real community changemakers. Partial proceeds from Taiwan Youth Camp will It is a transformative summer that encourages every participant to step forward as a global citizen and a leader with purpose.

Register today! ***Link here —> Taiwan Youth Leadership

Partner NPO in Focus: Mr. Huang Jin-shan, Founder of Ming Hsiung Secondhand book store

Mr. Huang is a community hero in Chiayi who transformed his life to support children in an underprivileged neighborhood. He opened a second-hand bookstore to make books accessible to every child, and he provides free tutoring and dinner so they have a safe, supportive place to learn and grow after school. His dedication has created a welcoming space where young people feel seen, encouraged, and inspired, and his work continues to uplift families and strengthen the community around him.

In the second session, young leaders will have the rare opportunity to meet Mr. Huang in person, hear his story, and learn how he overcame setbacks to make a profound impact on the children in his community.

Mr. Huang in the news in Taiwan:

送二手書、免費課輔　前世貿館長貸款回嘉義開書店：不讓任何孩子落下｜天下雜誌

「我的家鄉沒有書店」！館長棄高薪　回「嘉」接住被落下的生命 – 人才永續@天下學習

免費補救教學 薪傳書店投入12年 – 生活 – 自由時報電子報

Camper qualification:

  • Non-native Mandarin speaker youth, ages 13-18

Camp Date, Time & Schedule:

  • Session 1 – Thrift for Good, 6/29/2026-7/10/2026
  • Session 2 – Sustainability for Good, 7/13/2026-7/24/2026
  • Time: 10am-5pm (Dismissal time may vary depending on activity of the day)

Classroom location (TBC):

  • Xinyi Rd, Sec. 4, Lane 30, No. 26, 1st Floor, Da’an District, Taipei City. Da’an MRT station 2 minute walk.

Camp Fee:

  • Campers bear the cost of wire transfer or other bank fees
  • Minimum 5 young leaders to start each session. If minimum is not reached, total camp fees are fully refundable (excluding registration fee)
  • Returning leaders’ registeration fee will be discounted to $1000NTD.
  • 5% discount on camp cost for leaders sign up for both session
  • Session 2’s Chiayi accommodation will be local hotel or homestay.

Enrollment

  1. Please fill out the online registration form, link here —>: Taiwan Youth Leadership Registration. Parents will receive an automated response email after completing the form.
  2. Parents will receive additional details on camp and payment information in an e-mail within 5 – 7 business days.
  3. If you do not receive any response within two days, please get in touch with us directly. Do not reply
    to the automated reply email.
  4. After payment is confirmed, an email confirmation will be sent to parents’ e-mail. Enrollment is
    complete when parents receive email confirmation.
  5. Parents should complete payment via wire transfer within 6 business days and fill out payment
    information with this form.
  6. Parents are responsible for wire fees and other bank fees incurred as a part of the payment or refund process.

Contact Information:

taiwanyouthleadership@gmail.com or Facebook: Taiwan Youth Leadership

Partner NPOs in the news

Ming Hsiung Secondhand Bookstore Founder, Mr. Huang Jin-shan

Founder of Step30 Yang Yu-jen’s Ted Talk

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Q:  My trip to Taiwan doesn’t match up with the session schedule.  Can I sign up for the camp partially?
  • A: Young leaders should ideally participate for the full duration of a session （2 weeks） and priority will be given to those who are able to do so.  Interested campers who wish to attend less than 2 weeks will be placed on a wait list.
  • Q:  Can young leaders sign up for only the morning Mandarin classes and not participate in the afternoon activities?
  • A: We have designed the camp to create the best, immersive Mandarin learning experience.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate campers who cannot attend the full day of camp.
  • Q:  What is the student-teacher ratio for Chinese classroom lessons?
  • A:  The class size will be between 5-15 students.
  • Q: My child’s Mandarin level is not strong enough, how will he/she understand what he/she needs to do during volunteer work?
  • Ａ: Our staff all speak simple English. They will communicate in Mandarin first and if the young leaders are struggling to understand, they can explain in simple English.
  • Q: What kind of interactions with locals will the young leaders have?
  • A: Plenty. From the team at Step30, to Nanjichang Food Bank, the program is designed so that the young leaders have interaction with the local communities.
  • Q:  How does the camp handle young leaders with different levels of Chinese language ability? How do you ensure an optimal learning experience?
  • A:  After the initial assessment test, students will be identified as beginner or advanced learners. The small class size will enable teachers to give focused teaching according to the student’s level. Homework assignments will also be assigned in accordance to student levels.
  • Q:  Can parents join for the outdoor activities and community service?
  • A:  Yes we will open a few days of the community service for parents to participate
  • Q: Can my child opt out of the beach cleanup day? It looks very strenuous.
  • A: If young leaders skip volunteer opportunities, he/she will not be able to receive the certificate for the program.
  • Q: Can my child opt out of the overnight trip of the second session?
  • A: Yes, please indicate your preference when you register.
  • Q: Will it be too hot for beach cleaning in Taiwan for July?
  • A: The young leaders and the staffs should prepare for a hard day of work outdoors with plenty of sunblock, protective gear and stay dehydrated. Throughout the process, the teachers and staffs will closely monitor the young leaders’ condition and suspend activity if it becomes too hot outside.
  • Q: What is the transportation arrangement for outdoor trips?
  • A: public transportation, private vans or mini-buses will be chartered.
  • Q: What kind of lunch will be provided?  What if young leaders have dietary requirements or restrictions?
  • A:  Taiwan Youth Leadership provides delicious, healthy, and nutritious meals in local style. If campers have known food allergies, please inform the teacher in advance. If campers wish to prepare their own lunch, the meal cost will not be refunded or excluded from total camp fees.  

Refund Policy:

  • Q:  I have already finished enrollment and completed payment. However, I now won’t be able to travel to Taiwan. Can I get a refund?
  • A: The registration fee is non-refundable.  Refunds for tuition may be processed under the following conditions
  1. If for any reason, Taiwan Youth Leadership cancels the camp, total camp fee（excluding the registration fee will be refunded.  
  2. If for any reason, young leaders wish to cancel enrollment, 90% of the tuition will be refunded provided that the cancelation request is emailed at least 30 days before the first day of camp.
  3. If young leaders wish to cancel enrollment within 30 days before the first day of camp, only 50% of the tuition will be refunded.
  4. There will be no refunds after 1st day of camp    
  • Refunds will not be process untiled Sept 2026. It may take up to 30 days after processing for campers to receive refunds. The registrant shall bear the cost of the wire transfer and other bank fees incurred during the refund process. Exchange rate of the return fee will be determined at the time of refund processed.
  • Q: What will happen to the camp if the pandemic situation deteriorates and Taiwan’s government cancels all in-person classes?
  • A:  If in-person class is not permitted because of the pandemic, Chinese classes will be held online and the afternoon sessions will be canceled. Tuition will be partially refunded. Taiwan Youth Leadership reserves the right to adjust the camp as necessary.   
  • Q: If for any reason, young leaders decides to take leave for a few days or call in sick, can we get a refund for the missed days?
  • A:  Regretfully, refunds will not be provided for any leaves of absence.
  • Q: If the camp is canceled due to typhoons or other natural disasters, will we receive a refund?
  • A:  We regretfully will not be able to provide refunds for camp cancellations due to typhoons or natural disasters.
  • Q: If the activities are canceled because of the pandemic, will they be rescheduled?
  • A: Taiwan Youth Leadership reserves the right to adjust or change the activities in accordance with the situation. Activity fees may be partially refunded.