Talent Cultivation in Tribal Areas

The future of Hualien and Taitung relies on the local community, as outsiders alone cannot sustain it. To nurture indigenous leaders with a global outlook, Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) initiated various programs. Beginning in 2013, three young individuals from different tribes participated in the Make A Difference (MaD) "Hong Kong MaD School” Conference, which hosted 1,600 Asian youth leaders. Subsequently, with the generous support of Chairman Quintin Wu from USI Corp. for "For Love - Hualien Youth International Learning Scholarship Fund”. Along with assistance from Chairman Sun Wei-Ping and General Manager Wu Ji-Ru from Wish Communication the United States, the foundation launched the "Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Center / Brigham Young University Asia Executive Management Program" (AEMP) in 2013. By 2020, seven young individuals in their twenties had successfully completed an eight-month training program in Hawaii.

To accelerate the accumulation of talent, the "Hualien-Taitung Sustainability -Hawaii Cultural Sustainability Educational Tour " project was initiated in 2016. Over three consecutive years, individuals with leadership potential from both the private and public sectors, including tribal representatives, young community members, and upcoming leaders, were invited to participate. They engaged in approximately 11 days of learning; this exchange allowed them to discuss the real challenges faced in areas such as culture, education, tourism, and land, leading to self-reflection and inspiring vision. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the fourth group of participants finally embarked on their journey in 2023. In total, there have been 62 participants across the four groups.

Starting in January 2019, we have regularly organized "Huatung Cultural Sustainability Forum,” typically once held every six months. These gatherings focus on tribal issues, as well as the sustainable development of Hualien, Taitung, and Taiwan as a whole. Guided by the principles of "sharing" and "trust," participants engage in experience sharing, seek consensus, and learn from each other. They work together to address various challenges, harnessing the collective strength of the team to build consensus. The goal is to gradually establish a learning community of mutual support and the development of feasible solutions for the vision of Huatung. 

From 2015 to 2019, in partnership with the Taiwan Indigenous Education Association and the Wisdom & Compassion Education Foundation, ACF launched the "LUMA Taiwan Indigenous Youth Overseas Study Program" tailored for Indigenous college students and educators. This initiative entailed a year-long training program, culminating in a month-long summer study expedition to the United States. The program's centerpiece was participation in the annual United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) conference, an event that brought together over 2,000 Indigenous Native American youth for the exchange of ideas on Indigenous culture, policies, and other pertinent subjects. A total of 25 participants joined this program in the past three years.