“Driven by curiosity. Connected through understanding.”

Volunteerism and learning do not exist only in classrooms. They can be found around street corners, within the layers of history. Through a storytelling, game-based approach, we weave key concepts of HIV and the message of U=U into the everyday landscape of Ximending.

Centered in Ximending and grounded in its local character, this experience invites participants to walk, explore, and immerse themselves in the city. Along the way, they rediscover stories that have long been overlooked.

Participants are not merely receiving information—they come to understand the social meaning behind scientific knowledge as they move through the experience. Through interaction and dialogue, they encounter the values of equality, respect, and inclusion.

Organizer
Federation of Public Health Student Associations in Taiwan

Supervising Organizations:
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Ministry of Health and Welfare
Kunming Prevention and Control Center, Taipei City Hospital
Youth Department, New Taipei City Government

Funding Support:
Youth Development Administration, Ministry of Education
Youth Department, New Taipei City Government

Sponsor:
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Taiwan Ltd.

We believe that the starting point of change does not lie in one-way instruction, but in genuine understanding and empathy between people. Guided by this belief, the HERO Campus Ambassador Program brings together a group of passionate young individuals committed to public issues, empowering them to redefine how society understands HIV through creativity and action.

The program is structured around four core stages—Recruitment, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Action. From selection and professional training to online advocacy and offline engagement, it systematically cultivates young people into socially conscious advocates equipped with both insight and the ability to act.

Through training and hands-on initiatives, campus ambassadors learn to communicate messages of understanding and equality through images, words, and storytelling. Their voices begin on campus and extend into social networks and city streets—spreading from peer influence to broader society.

“As Usual” is a collaborative production involving over a hundred students from medical and public health disciplines. From songwriting and composition to performance and music video production, every stage was created by youth.

Through music, the project embraces a warm and emotive style—aiming to move audiences through melody and voice, and to help them connect with the hope and messages embedded in the lyrics.

By resonating with listeners on an emotional level, the song seeks to bridge the gap between the public and HIV, fostering greater understanding and reducing stigma.

Organizer
Federation of Public Health Student Associations in Taiwan

Supervising Organizations:
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Ministry of Health and Welfare
Department of Health, Taipei City Government
Kunming Prevention and Control Center, Taipei City Hospital

Sponsor:
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Taiwan Ltd.
Canon Taiwan Inc.

During the workshop, we invited physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases, to introduce the fundamentals of HIV and address issues surrounding stigma. His session helped participants build accurate knowledge and gain a clearer understanding of the current realities of HIV.

We also welcomed case manager at the Kunming Prevention and Control Center, who has extensive experience in HIV prevention and care. She shared practical insights and health education strategies, equipping participants with the skills to communicate accurate information and engage with people living with HIV.

To conclude the program, a “street outreach” session was organized, allowing participants to apply what they had learned through real interactions with the public.

Held as a campus tour across Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan, the forum brings together experienced professionals in the field of HIV/AIDS to engage in in-depth dialogue with young participants.

Through discussion and hands-on activities, participants explore how to foster gender-inclusive environments and reflect on ways to build a more inclusive and supportive society.

This initiative integrates HIV awareness into one of Taiwan’s largest religious events—the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. Through on-site street outreach, the program delivers HIV health education directly to the public and sets up HIV testing stations along the route.

Amid this annual nationwide religious gathering, the initiative promotes HIV/AIDS prevention, enhances public health literacy, and raises awareness through accessible and engaging outreach activities.

In addition to educational efforts around the event, anonymous testing stations are provided, creating opportunities for meaningful interaction and direct engagement with participants.

This initiative is led by a student organization and brings together diverse stakeholders, including academic institutions, government agencies, local NGOs, and the pharmaceutical sector.

Throughout the implementation of various programs, the initiative has received substantial support from government bodies—not only in strategic guidance but also in resource provision. By integrating efforts across sectors, these collaborations have continuously advanced the vision of health equity.

The YENHA team also conducted interviews with participating students. Many shared that, prior to joining the program, their understanding of HIV/AIDS was largely limited to theoretical knowledge, with little awareness of the social challenges surrounding prevention and stigma. Through listening to the lived experiences of people living with HIV, engaging in reflection, and actively participating in the program, they began to develop empathy and a deeper understanding of these realities.

We hope these initiatives serve as a starting point—a gateway that highlights the importance of youth engagement. We believe that through collective effort, young people can create meaningful social impact. By continuing to raise our voices and carrying forward the work of those before us, we aim to pass on the momentum for change to the next generation, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society.