Department for Youth, Taipei City Government(青年局英文網)

Today (16th), the Taipei City Government's Department for Youth held the "2024 Public Policy Creative Proposal and Debate Competition Launch Event" in the lobby of its headquarters. The theme for this year's competition is "Future Land Use Planning for the Former Taipei City Mortuary Services Office First Funeral Parlor and Surrounding Funeral Land." Submissions are now officially open, and young people are encouraged to showcase their creativity and submit proposals by September 30. The launch event featured well-known host Gladys Tsai and “JXT BOY” members Vincent Liang and David Chao as "Event Ambassadors." They humorously and engagingly introduced the competition’s process, rules, scoring criteria, and substantial prize money to the attending youth and media. This competition symbolizes that the window for youth creativity and public policy exchange is now fully open, and fresh ideas from all walks of life are welcome to contribute to public affairs.

The Taipei City Mortuary Services Office First Funeral Parlor completed its solemn mission after nearly 60 years of operation in June this year. Deputy Mayor Lin Yihua, who attended the launch event, said that public participation by youth has traditionally been associated with student councils, student parliaments, or political activism. However, public participation can take many forms. The city government values the voices of young people, and the Department for Youth has turned the future land use planning of the site following the demolition of the First Funeral Parlor into a creative proposal topic. This approach expands the scope of youth public participation, breaking away from conventional thinking. By harnessing youth creativity, the city aims to explore more possibilities for its future, hoping to find proposals that balance creativity with practical implementation.

Commissioner Yin Wei of the Department for Youth emphasized that the Public Policy Creative Proposal and Debate Competition is a crucial means for promoting youth public participation. He thanked senior city officials and various departments, including the Civil Affairs Department, Department of Urban Development, Taipei City Government, and Finance Management Division, for their support in enabling the smooth launch of the competition. The Department for Youth aims to bring young voices into the decision-making process while also considering local community sentiments. Commissioner Yin stated that launching the "Future Land Use Planning for the First Funeral Parlor Site" this year is particularly meaningful, as it marks the transition from bidding farewell to the past to looking forward to the future, hoping to achieve better public policy creativity and effectiveness through this homage. He also mentioned that the creative proposal competition will not be a one-off event; it will continue next year and beyond, aiming to make Taipei a city where young people truly have a say in decision-making. He emphasized that other activities organized by the Department for Youth are also designed to be bottom-up, allowing more creativity to enter the system and continuously redefine the meaning of “the system.”

At the launch event, the Department for Youth invited well-known host Gladys Tsai and “JXT BOY” members Vincent Liang and David Chao to serve as "Event Ambassadors." They humorously interacted with the audience to introduce the competition's process and scoring criteria. At the start, Vincent Liang and David Chao joked about making a "comeback" and enthusiastically discussed various creative proposal ideas. David Chao suggested presenting proposal videos in a rap and dance style, while Vincent Liang proposed turning the site into a space where young people can boldly express themselves. Gladys Tsai reminded them that, in addition to making creative videos, participants must also submit a detailed proposal that analyzes the current situation and outlines future plans, turning creative ideas into understandable project content. Upon learning that the total prize money for this competition is NT$240,000, the three ambassadors enthusiastically discussed registering for the competition and how to split the prize money if they win. However, Gladys Tsai pointed out that both Vincent Liang and David Chao were slightly overage and ineligible to participate. Commissioner Yin Wei humorously called out to David to raise the stakes, filling the venue with laughter and creating a lively atmosphere.

The Department for Youth emphasized that the creative proposal competition is not just a contest but also a great opportunity for young people to showcase their creativity and participate in city governance. The Taipei City Government's Department for Youth looks forward to the unique insights of each participant, working together to chart a new chapter for Taipei's future. For more details about the competition, please visit the submission platform or contact the organizer.