YLSS practice in Taiwan

YLSS, the Youth-Led Solution Summit is an initiative of the World YMCA, in collaboration with YMCA of the USA and the YMCA of San Francisco, the United Nations, academia and external partners to empower young people and drive social innovation to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The vison of the Summits is to amplify youth solutions that positively impact local and global sustainability, the development of just and equitable communities, and the well-being of all people.

There’re two solution teams organized by Taiwan YMCA. From the last week of January to the third week of February is our winter vacation, both of Taiwan teams have planned through some kids’ activities of the winter camp to promote our solutions.

First solution team which related to the topic: Waste Management, was mainly organized by Tainan YMCA. It was held as a workshop through the Caring Community School Project. In Taiwan, the school education usually teaches some basic concepts of recycling. However, the concept of “Clothing Recycling” is rarely talked about. After recycling clothes, where do they go? In addition to the disadvantaged groups, it is to enter the burning factory, but because of this, it also causes the combustion air pollution, the pollution of the influx of the pigment into the water source, and also cause the waste pollution. In order to reduce pollution, we created "Create a Second Life for Second-hand Clothes." In addition to guiding resource management, the use of the workshop facilitates the use of teaching hand-made, so that children have their own unique coin purse.

“I think this activity of making coin purses from second-hand clothes is very interesting. It only spends less than three hours to make the life of secondhand clothes and contribute to the environment. The idea of a friendly environment is communicated to the children and to ourselves, seeing their happy smile after completing the work is my greatest achievement. And from now on I will pass on the idea of reducing waste and regenerating life to more people, working hard to make a contribution to the planet, and building a greener future.” – feedback by a youth volunteer

And the second solution team is related to the topic: Sustainable Tourism, mainly organized by Taichung YMCA. It was held as a winter kids’ camp combined with youth service trips to the rural area and aboriginal tribe. During the trip, we put the concept of GATN (Global Alternative Tourism Network) in the camp. Bring our own tableware for the meals, walking to the spots instead of taking the bus, staying in the school classroom instead of stay in the hotels…etc. Also, we included the idea of climate action into the design of kid’s activities, like “Sustainable House Regeneration”, we used recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, paper boxes, paper cups, straws, Aluminum foil packages… and teach the kids not only to recycle them, but also that they can use creativity to reuse them.

It's a life changing experience for both young people and kids. They will remember it for the rest of their lives and will be traveling responsibly and sustainably for the rest of their lives, including their consumption habits, their respect and actions to protect the environment. Traveling the YMCA way is to live a responsible and sustainable lifestyle.

- By Judith Yin, Taiwan YMCA / Jeannie Chen, Taichung YMCA