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Chunyuan Hu, Founder of Refugee 101 Taiwan
As the founder of Refugee 101 Taiwan, Chunyuan collaborates with international organizations and local stakeholders to pave the way for Taiwan’s contributions to refugee humanitarian efforts.
Chunyuan’s passion for refugee advocacy began as a university student, where travels to countries such as Belize, Vietnam, Jordan, Lebanon, and Germany brought her face-to-face with refugee communities and asylum seekers. This firsthand experience ignited a profound sense of responsibility within her as she began to wonder, “What can I and my country of Taiwan do for refugees?”
Driven by this question, Chunyuan pursued a Masters in Education, Health Promotion, and International Development at University College London and joined the UNESCO Youth Researchers Program. To date, she has conducted over 100 workshops and lectures on refugee issues across Taiwan, reaching over 4,500 elementary, secondary, and college students.
No matter how passionate one is about the causes their organization represents, having a strong grasp of issue research and communication strategies is essential for professionals in NGOs to maximize their impact. Our iNGO students are no exception, so developing these skills is crucial to translating their passion into meaningful action.
Luckily, Chunyuan Hu is an expert in doing just that. She began her lecture by posing a simple question: What is the difference between a migrant and a refugee? While both terms refer to people relocating from one country to another, the distinction lies in why. While migrants may choose to move for personal reasons, refugees are compelled by factors outside of their control. Throughout her lecture, Chunyuan painted various scenarios for our students to put themselves in the shoes of a refugee or asylum seeker, grounded in real-life experiences from her career. For instance, one activity asked students to list the items they would bring if forced to flee their homes. While many students chose to bring money, cell phones, or a first aid kit, other items like medical records, identification documents, or academic diplomas were much less considered. Chunyuan stressed that these seemingly trivial items can mean the difference between having opportunities upon arrival in a new country or not. This compelled students to weigh the value of these material possessions and consider the very real sacrifices and impossible questions that countless refugees must face.
Chunyuan further emphasized that in order to engage with opposing viewpoints, one must be willing to ask themselves difficult questions to better understand their perspective. Again, she posed a simple question: Would you let them in?, referring to a photo of a boat filled with refugees. Surprisingly, more students responded “no” than “yes”, citing safety concerns, resource scarcity, and unfamiliarity. Notably, one student pointed out that country of origin can influence attitudes towards asylum seekers, citing a double standard between refugees from Ukraine versus Syria. This illustrates the importance of critically examining issues from various angles, demonstrating that matters concerning refugees are seldom straightforward or binary.
Finally, Chunyuan highlighted the crucial role that NGOs play by finding innovative ways to target segments of larger, more complex issues. Whether it's filling in legislative gaps, providing humanitarian aid, or simply raising awareness abroad, NGOs are essential in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by refugees and migrants. Despite Taiwan's lack of clear refugee legislation or pathways for asylum, Chunyuan hopes that future NGO leaders will champion initiatives to address these gaps, positioning Taiwan as a more proactive and compassionate global actor.
