Dream-Building Expands Overseas for the First Time: New Immigrants and Their Children Achieve Remarkable Success in Dream-Building Project, Ministry of the Interior: Supporting Dreams with Warmth and Care
Since 2014, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has been promoting the “Dream-Building Project for New Immigrants and Their Children,” which is now in its 10th year. Today, a celebration and showcase were held to honor the achievements of this year’s participants, with Deputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shi-yuan representing Minister Liu Shyh-fang, and Legislator Lo Mei-ling also joining the festivities. Ma announced that the 10th Dream-Building Project awarded grants to 49 teams comprising 144 individuals, supporting their aspirations in fields such as entrepreneurship, education, digital technology, public service, and environmental protection, with over NT$3.71 million in dream-building funds granted. This year also marked a milestone with the project’s first overseas initiatives, encouraging new immigrants and their children to return to their home countries to pursue their dreams, aligning with President Lai Ching-te’s National Day commitment to empowering young people to achieve their aspirations. Moving forward, the MOI will continue to support new immigrants and their children in fulfilling their dreams.After witnessing the inspiring and creative achievements of the 49 awarded groups and individuals, Ma shared his admiration for the participants, who hail from countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These new immigrants and their children worked courageously with friends, mentors, and classmates to bring meaningful dreams to realization, often channeling their outcomes into community service, which is deeply moving.Ma highlighted a few touching stories, including that of Yuan Li-chu, a new immigrant from Cambodia, and her daughters, Hsieh Hui-ping and Hsieh Yu-huan, who traveled back to Cambodia to document their journey of visiting their grandmother. Each daughter contributed by producing a picture book and managing social media, using storytelling to capture the cherished multi-generational bond. Another participant, Wu Hsing-chuan, a child of a Vietnamese mother, was motivated by concern for her mother’s health. After conducting interviews in her local community, she designed three types of medicine bags with information tailored for new immigrants, making it easier for them to access and understand medication information.Additionally, some award recipients focused on promoting sustainable farming and food education, using organic farming techniques to grow crops like grass jelly, water bamboo, and cherry tomatoes, which they sell directly. This initiative not only transformed their own lives but also allowed them to donate their hard-earned produce to individuals or organizations in need. Other winners started a fresh pet food brand, created interactive picture books using AR (augmented reality) technology, developed innovative board games, and offered mobile haircut services for the elderly. These dream-builders have fully showcased the resilience, creativity, and strong bonds of new immigrants and their children, bringing positivity and inspiration to society.Ma further emphasized that the Ministry of the Interior will continue supporting programs such as the “Dream-Building Project for New Immigrants and Their Children” and the “Scholarship Program for New Immigrants and Their Children,” empowering them to take root and thrive in Taiwan, adding strength to the nation’s progress. Videos documenting the achievements of this year’s award recipients will be available on the National Immigration Agency’s official website (https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7353/51883/85234/) and the multimedia zone on the IFI Network+ (https://ifi.immigration.gov.tw/wSite/lp?ctNode=37999&xq_xCat=20&mp=1). Everyone is invited to watch and share in the joy of these dreams becoming reality.
