In the modern era, geopolitical issues such as Taiwan-China tensions highlight the complexities and challenges in the path to global understanding. As a result, there are deep-seated animosities and misunderstandings between nations and its people, leading to a greater divide.

“A new survey commissioned from Gallup by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the National Geographic Society (NGS) finds that adult Americans exhibit gaps in their knowledge about geography and world affairs. Respondents answered just over half of the knowledge questions correctly, and only 6 percent got at least 80 percent of the questions right.” (https://www.cfr.org/report/us-adults-knowledge-about-world)

Taiwan serve as an example of how political disputes lead to entrenched (de facto) polarization and social division. These conflicts not only affect the directly-involved, but also have far-reaching consequences, shaping global perceptions and attitudes. Cultural biases, misconceptions, and stereotypes perpetuated by these conflicts hinder efforts to build bridges and foster understanding among communities. Moreover, younger generations, our future leaders, lack exposure to diverse perspectives and are thus easily susceptible to misconceptions and stereotypes, further intensifying tensions and perpetuating cycles of prejudice.

The purpose of this project is to create opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural exchanges among young Taiwanese individuals from around the globe to understand their own heritage while learning to accept others’ cultures.