The day after Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) wrapped up its SEWF25 conference in Taipei, Taiwan, we joined a full-day tour to learn more about the social changemaking scene in Taiwan. After days of rain, we were fortunate to be greeted with a dry, partially sunny day!
Twenty-plus participants joined the tour, carrying with them continued excitement and conversations from the SEWF25 conference. The tour bus drove us an hour east to the agricultural city of Yilan, where we met up with our tour guide, Mr. Fang, who calls himself “Young Grandpa.” This chosen nickname exemplifies his mission, which is to educate Taiwan’s urban youth as well as national and international guests, as a way to help preserve traditional culture (from the “grandpa” generation) as it passes on to the next generations of youth to continually innovate, bridging traditions with modern lifestyle, and cities with villages. At just age 40, he has already been tirelessly working on this mission for the past 11 years.
Young Grandpa took us through the Yilan morning market, bustling with vendors and shoppers both on foot and on scooters. Stopping at various stalls, meeting local vendors young and old, and tasting local delicacies (from freshly steamed rice cakes to deep fried Taiwanese donuts to ice cold tea with soy milk), he passionately explained the history of the different families – the businesses often passed down through multiple generations. With modernization of the city, traditional markets like this and, with it, the local culture and tight-knit communities, are at risk of being displaced. But through these families’ hard work, community partnerships, and new generations’ innovations to, as he calls it, “level up” their businesses, the market continues to thrive to this day. It was inspirational to see how many youths decided to stay or come back to take over their family business.
After lunch, we continued our journey to the nearby town of Su'ao, famous for its natural cold spring, and visited a 70-year, multi-generational noodles shop. We met the youngest son of the family, still covered in flour as he took time from noodle-making to talk with us. Partnering with other farmers and fishermen, they have incorporated fresh, local ingredients into their new products – supporting each other in the community.
My main takeaway from this tour was the theme of “sustainability.” Not only environmental sustainability, which is certainly practiced in local agriculture, but also sustainability of culture, sustainability of communities, sustainability of local economy, and sustainability of values. Putting people and planet first, generation after generation, one cup of bubble tea after another cup of bubble tea, communities can continue to thrive when we put our hearts, heads, and hands together to make it happen.
Author:
Belinda Li
Social Enterprise Alliance Board member and Founder of CiTTA Partnership, a social impact consulting firm
Article date:
November 12, 2025