Faced with the challenges of climate change and extreme weather, young people in Taiwan are moving beyond concern and rolling up their sleeves to take action. The Youth Development Administration （YDA） of the Ministry of Education, through the Youth Community Participation and Action 2.0 - Changemaker Project, has long encouraged young people ages 18 to 35 to work directly with local communities and use their creativity to address local challenges. This year, selected teams FATS and 里山之身 are putting that spirit into practice in Hualien and Nantou, respectively, taking “post-disaster farming recovery” and “waterway revitalization” as starting points for working alongside local residents as they respond to environmental change. Their energy and initiative send a clear message: when it comes to sustainability, the way forward is to act.
After floodwaters from the overflowing barrier lake receded and the mud was cleared, another question came into focus: how could the land itself recover? FATS, a youth team based in Guangfu Township, Hualien County, found that the hardest part of post-disaster recovery was restoring resilience to farmland stripped of its vitality. In response, the team launched its “Youth Farm Partnership” initiative, rallying young volunteers to Pangcah Organic Farm in the Fata'an （Mataian） community, where they joined the day-to-day work of bringing the fields back into cultivation. Their support extended beyond hands-on farmwork, with the team also organizing a “Post-Disaster Action Exhibition” that documented the painstaking recovery process, drew public attention to the challenges facing agriculture amid extreme weather, as well as opened a deeper public conversation about local post-disaster recovery and environmental sustainability.
Running through the southwestern neighborhoods of Puli Township, Nantou County, the Pacheng Flood Canal was once a cherished part of everyday life for older residents, who gathered there to wash clothes and catch up with neighbors. As urban development and changing lifestyles gradually distanced people from the water, 里山之身 launched a “Waterway Adventure” to bring them back. Through ecological walking tours, hands-on sessions in the traditional practice of washing clothes with spring water, and even a “Springwater Theater” performance along the waterfront, the team invited residents to rediscover the waterway's ecological value. Working with a local environmental volunteer team, the young participants also transformed litter collected during stream cleanups into striking installation art, creating warm, community-centered experiences that rekindled memories among older residents while helping a new generation fall in love with their hometown waters anew.
The YDA noted that, whether through post-disaster farming support in Hualien or a renewed dialogue between people and water in Nantou, young participants in the Changemaker Project have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability through close collaboration with local communities. Their work shows that even seemingly overwhelming climate challenges can be tackled by starting with the ground beneath our feet, as each small local action adds to Taiwan's capacity to build a more sustainable future.
Want to discover more vibrant, engaging, and moving stories of young people taking action in communities across Taiwan? Visit the official Youth Community Participation and Action 2.0 website （https://changemaker.yda.gov.tw/） or follow The Youth Development Administration （YDA） of the Ministry of Education on Facebook for the latest updates on youth action.
In Guangfu Township, Hualien County, FATS brings young volunteers to Pangcah Organic Farm, where they help weed, learn to raise corn seedlings, and ta
里山之身 takes Puli residents into the Pacheng Flood Canal to experience traditional clothes washing and stream cleanup firsthand, renewing their connecti