Elite Youth from Over 100 Countries Embark on Taiwan Tour.
This August Taiwan will have the opportunity to host outstanding individuals from 125 countries with the likes of an Olympic bronze medalist to beauty queens.
Organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs, The Republic of China (Taiwan) International Youth Week-- Centennial Homestay’s（”Say Taiwan”）selection of international guests will be released today (31st May, 2011). Due to the overwhelming response from international applicants, organizers of “Say Taiwan” extended the deadline for applications by a month. After a rigorous selection process and judging criteria, 250 candidates from 125 countries were chosen out of thousands of applicants from across the globe to be offered a chance to visit Taiwan in August.
The panels of judges, composed of experts from various fields were all highly impressed by the caliber of applicants and their creativity in their plans to promote Taiwan. Many applicants put a lot of effort in filming their self-introductory videos and are deeply interested in the Taiwanese culture. Some have even included letters of recommendation from their heads of state, making competition between applicants particularly fierce.
“The international candidates were all very qualified individuals who hold strong interest for Taiwan. However due to the limited space we have for applicants, some qualified applicants have unfortunately not been chosen,” says one of the judges Su Cherng-Tyan from the Chung Hua University, College of Tourism. In addition, another member of the judging committee Andreas Gursch describes the Homestay program as a highly effective strategy in increasing Taiwan’s international profile, and that the selected international candidates will definitely be ‘outstanding ambassadors’.
The selected candidates are all outstanding young leaders in their own respective fields, in addition to students from elite universities around the world such as Yale, Cambridge and Harvard, from the sporting world, the ROC will be welcoming the 2008 Beijing Olympics Taekwondo bronze medalist Chika Chukwumerije from Nigeria and the 2006/2007 winner of the Finnish National Championships in 470 Olympics Sailing Class Jusso Lautienen. Chukwumerije wishes to meet Taekwondo enthusiasts in Taiwan before preparing for the 2012 Olympics in London. Other selected candidates include Iantavian Queeley, 2010-2011 reigning national carnival queen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as Miss Kiribati 2010 Save Redfern; their presence will undoubtedly contribute to the increased coverage of the event.
Outstanding international journalists, food and travel writers, bloggers and women’s rights activists’ alike make up the list of participating candidates. Some have already created blogs and websites in advance as part of their publicity plan, allowing people across the world to have a chance to see Taiwan through their eyes.
International applicants have expressed their growing anticipation daily on the event’s social media pages. Travel itinerary discussions are amongst the most popular topics – some wish to try local delicacies, and others make new friends in Taiwan; it is through these social media platforms that the international applicants can interact and share their views on Taiwan and its many wonders.
“Let’s SAY together we love TAIWAN!”, wrote David from Guatemala, expressing the shared excitement amongst all applicants.
Following the release of the final selections for international guests, the list of selected host families will be announced in mid-June. Host families in Taiwan are both hopeful and nervous. Family members of participating host family applicants have eagerly discussed a range of activities that they wish to share with their potential international friends, in a manner as Minister Emile Chihjen Sheng of the Council for Cultural Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) has described as “almost as if they were preparing a birthday party within the family”. Host families are very much prepared to welcome their guests from afar whom are equally enthusiastic to be accommodated.
To celebrate the ROC’s a hundredth anniversary, apart from the participation of our international friends and host families, everyone can be Taiwan’s Goodwill Ambassador and promote the country on a much larger scale. International communities will also truly experience Taiwan and a unique way of living while sharing the joys of the founding of a nation with the locals.
Website:http://taiwanroc100.tw/100homestay/
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