In August 2025, three youth volunteer teams from CYCU will travel to Cambodia and Thailand for 2–4 weeks of service. By combining their academic strengths, students will support local education and digital development through teacher training, arts and Mandarin camps, and hands-on IT courses—demonstrating CYCU’s commitment to global service and social responsibility.
The Cambodia Volunteer Team will be the first to depart. From August 7 to 29, Ting-Hsuan Chu from the Department of Business Administration and her team will travel to rural Siem Reap to implement an English teacher training program in partnership with the local nonprofit KAKO (Khmer Akphiwat Khmer Organization). By empowering high school students to become future English teachers, the team promotes a sustainable “locals empowering locals” model, helping educational seeds take root and grow within the community.
The Thailand Volunteer Team will also depart in August, led by intern team leader Yun-Chen Tsai from the Department of Finance. The team will serve at a Mandarin elementary school in Mae Sot, near the Thai-Myanmar border, in collaboration with the Hsin Yi Charity Foundation (Taoyuan) and Chungli Vocational High School. Together, they will host a Mandarin summer camp infused with artistic creativity. Through diverse and engaging lesson plans, the team aims to inspire students and foster cross-cultural exchange between Taiwan and Thailand. Tsai shared her hope to pass on her experience to team members, continue learning, and tailor their service to better meet local needs.
Now in its ninth year, CYCU’s “Thai-Khong-Man-You” Youth Volunteer Team continues the spirit of the original “Thai-Khong Project.” Led by Professor Hsiu-Li Liao from the Department of Information Management, eight students including Szu-Chi Lin will travel to the College of Asian Humanities in Khon Kaen, Thailand, from August 17 to 30 to deliver a comprehensive IT education program.
The curriculum includes immersive VR-based learning, game-based programming with Scratch and Code.org, applications of generative AI tools, and deep learning modules such as Python sentiment analysis. Lessons are tailored by age group with bilingual instruction and incorporate competitions to boost engagement.
Professor Liao noted that the team spent six months preparing through on-site needs assessments, curriculum development, and training in culture, language, technology, and safety. The step-by-step course design ranges from basic hardware skills to project-based applications, and also features cultural exchanges like introductions to Taiwanese cuisine and attractions. The program aims to enhance students’ digital literacy and creative thinking, reduce the digital divide, and strengthen the long-standing partnership between CYCU and local Thai institutions.
On June 17, three students visited the Presidential Office, representing CYCU to receive personal recognition and encouragement from President Lai Ching-te. President Lai praised the student volunteers for “exploring the world with their feet, serving others with passion, and advancing diplomacy through action—showing the world the best of Taiwan.” Among them, Yun-Chen Tsai from the Department of Finance stepped into the Presidential Office for the second time, having progressed from team member last year to intern team leader this year—a testament to CYCU’s three-year leadership development program.
Director of the CYCU Service-Learning Center, Che-I Tu, noted that since 2008, Chung Yuan Christian University has promoted overseas service-learning through a three-stage leadership development model—team member, intern leader, and vice leader—to cultivate students’ leadership and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and give back to the global community.
Dean of Student Affairs, Ting-Yu Chin, emphasized that all three CYCU teams received Ministry of Education funding and were honored by a presidential reception this year. This recognition reflects the university’s commitment to holistic education and its motto, “Faith and Action,” as it approaches its 70th anniversary. CYCU will continue to nurture globally minded professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.
