Taiwan’s North Star Scout Group recently deepened educational ties with Indonesia through a 13-day service program in Medan, blending scout training with local classroom instruction to foster cross-cultural learning. 

Eighteen young scouts from Taiwan’s North Star Scout Group arrived in Medan on August 1, carrying out volunteer teaching supported by the Foreign Ministry’s NGO international aid program and in partnership with Putra Bangsa Berbudi School. Deputy Chief Lai Chun-ju (賴春如) told reporters that the team designed lessons based on experience and the host school’s needs, integrating scout activities into existing curricula to align with Indonesian students’ learning environment. 

Taiwan’s Representative to Indonesia, Bruce Chen-jung Hung (洪振榮), attended events in Medan on August 9, emphasizing that scout education goes beyond knots and camping to cultivate youth’s social responsibility. He said they hope Taiwan and Indonesia can continue to deepen exchanges through scout education and volunteer service, enabling more young people to deepen their understanding through shared learning. 

The group’s news release noted that the team grew from seven members last year to 18 this year, led by group leader Chung Wen-yen (鍾文彥), with strengthened pre-departure training, course design, and role division. Activities included scout lessons, teacher-capacity building workshops, and a scout carnival with Taiwanese scouts using hands-on demonstrations to bridge language gaps while Indonesian teachers assisted with translation. 

Lai said participants gained cross-cultural communication, teamwork, and adaptability through teaching, adding that she hopes to develop a sustainable cooperation model with schools.