Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan

In mid-May, the Higher Education Sprout Project Office and the Yunus Social Business Centre (YSBC) at National Taichung University of Science and Technology held a Campus Net Zero Carbon Emissions Day. University President Chen Tong Xiao invited prominent guests, including Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President ,Philippa Tsai, former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Affairs Department and Honorary Advisor of the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan Ambassador Chiu Zhong Ren and his wife, and Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education Yang Yu Hui. Together, they planted three pink shower trees on campus to symbolize the commitment to “net zero carbon emissions,” hoping to inspire youth to embrace environmental protection principles and promote low-carbon vegetarian diets at the event’s marketplace.

President Chen Tong Xiao began by welcoming and thanking the distinguished guests. Director General ,Yang Yu Hui, emphasized in her speech that students should cultivate a sense of social responsibility during their time at school. She mentioned the UN’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and stressed the importance of starting with individual actions, such as using reusable cups and practicing energy conservation, to prevent the recurring image of polar bears stranded on small ice floes. She hoped that students would understand and embody the spirit of environmental sustainability through the event.

Ambassador ,Chiu ZhongRen, shared that despite the harsh climates and difficulty in obtaining fruits and vegetables while serving abroad, he remained committed to a vegetarian diet. He emphasized that global warming is worsening and that adopting a vegetarian diet is one way to help save the planet.

Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President ,Philippa Tsai, noted that there are currently 108 universities worldwide with Yunus Social BusinessCentres, all of which are renowned institutions. National Taichung University of Science and Technology was the first in central Taiwan to establish a YSBC. The university’s “Campus Net Zero Carbon Emissions Day” promotes carbon reduction principles and inspires more young people to engage in the Zero Emissions, Zero Poverty, and Zero Unemployment goals and social business entrepreneurship. She encouraged students to participate in the Taiwan Yunus Social Business Innovation Award to gain more experience connecting with industries.

The Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan will continue to integrate YSBC resources from various universities to promote the good business model of social businesses in Taiwan. They will also organize social innovation activities, inviting young people to participate and allowing the seeds of sustainability to take root and grow in Taiwan. The Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan was authorized by Professor Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, to promote the concepts of social businesses and the three-zero vision of zero carbon emissions, zero poverty, and zero unemployment. They encourage Taiwanese universities to establish YSBCs to promote social business models and the three-zero vision on campus. The Foundation supports YSBCs in organizing workshops, forums, and other initiatives to fulfill social responsibility and plant the seeds of sustainability in the hearts of young students.

Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President ,Philippa Tsai, former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Affairs Department and Honorary Advisor of the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan Ambassador Chiu Zhong Ren and his wife, Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education Yang Yu Hui, and National Taichung University of Science and Technology President Chen Tong Xiao jointly planted pink shower trees at the Sanmin campus of National Taichung University of Science and Technology.

Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education, Yang Yu Hui, delivered a speech.

Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President ,Philippa Tsai (left) presented the book "A World of Three Zeros" by Professor Yunus to Director General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education Yang Yu Hui (center) and National Taichung University of Science and Technology President Chen Tong Xiao (right).

Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President Philippa Tsai (far left), former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Affairs Department and Honorary Advisor of the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan Ambassador Chiu Zhong Ren and his wife (far right, second from right), together planted pink shower trees at the Sanmin campus of National Taichung University of Science and Technology.

Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan President Philippa Tsai (far left), former Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ European Affairs Department and Honorary Advisor of the Foundation for Yunus Social Business Taiwan Ambassador Chiu Zhong Ren and his wife (far right, second from right), together planted pink shower trees at the Sanmin campus of National Taichung University of Science and Technology.