This summer, the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan) trained 72 young disaster relief volunteers through two sessions of its Everywhere for Everyone Camp. These young disaster relief volunteers later formed 10 service teams and traveled to nine elementary schools in Hualien, where they led 10 sessions of the “Resilience for All” camp, teaching children practical skills to cope with emergencies.

But the story did not end with the close of summer. On September 13, university students from across Taiwan reunited at the Humanitarian Park in Tamsui for the 2025 Youth Disaster Preparedness Reflection and Celebration Gathering. Through short films, a photo exhibition, and storytelling competitions, they relived the challenges and triumphs of their service. What once felt like pressure, many said, has now become growth etched into their lives.

Taiwan Red Cross President Wei-Ta Pan attended the event to present service certificates and awards to each participant. In a heartfelt address, he told them: “You did more than complete training and tasks. You chose to stay, to walk alongside the Red Cross, and that commitment moves us deeply. Wherever you go in the future, you will always be welcome to return with new experiences and ideas to accomplish even greater things together.”

The young leaders shared candid reflections. One said: “I thought service meant only giving, but the smiles and responses of the children made me feel I was the one receiving encouragement.” Another discovered that disaster education need not be rigid: “It can be taught through games and interactions, so children naturally understand risk awareness. That moved me deeply.”

For some, the training was a test of courage. “I was so nervous teaching for the first time — I used to tremble even during class presentations,” one student said. “But thanks to my teammates for lightening the mood, and the children’s cooperation, I made it through.” Another confessed: “If I had known at the start how much preparation was required, I might not have signed up. But looking back, I realize it was a rare opportunity to learn just how much I was capable of.”

The bonds with children left the deepest impressions. “I never expected to cry so hard after just four days together,” one participant admitted. Another recalled a poignant moment when children played a disaster-preparedness game and were asked how to respond if a stray dog were left homeless after a disaster. Not one child chose to abandon it. All insisted on “taking it home” or “finding it shelter.” For the youth leaders, it was a vivid reminder of the Red Cross principle of humanity — extending care not only to people, but to all living beings.

President Pan emphasized that the camps were not designed for scale, but for impact: “We don’t choose schools based on how many students they have, how large the venue is, or how advanced the facilities may be. We go where there is need.” Some schools hosted fewer than 100 students across all grades; others were remote and under-resourced, with few opportunities for disaster education. Yet the youth leaders went anyway, he said, because the true measure of success is not numbers, but whether every child gains the ability to protect themselves and others — and carries that knowledge into daily life.

These youth leaders became more than instructors; they became seeds of resilience, spreading awareness that can ripple outward — from one classroom to an entire community, and from a single region to a wider network of preparedness. As children carry lessons home and youth leaders internalize their experiences, disaster readiness slowly takes root in daily habits.

In the end, what these young leaders offered was not only knowledge, but compassion — turning youthful energy into a force for protection, and sowing resilience one child, one family, and one community at a time.