KEEPWALKING: Dreams Take Flight – Building Taiwan as a Barrier-Free Travel Destination

Organized by Diageo, the sixth “KEEP WALKING Dream Grant Program” has unveiled its list of ten dream recipients. This year, Diageo is providing a total of NT$10 million in “Dream Starter Grants” to support these ten individuals, two of whom are members of the post-1980s generation. The dreams of this year’s winners focus primarily on supporting vulnerable groups, with ecological conservation also remaining a key area of concern.

Among the ten recipients, Zheng Shuyun, who has polio herself, is determined to prevent others with the condition from facing the same barriers that once prevented her from pursuing her dreams. She aims to leverage online resources to create a barrier-free travel route around Taiwan specifically designed for people with polio, helping more individuals with mobility challenges explore new horizons. Meanwhile, Lai Shusheng, who has lived overseas for many years and is engaged in humanitarian work in the Thailand-Myanmar border region, supports local residents by promoting the production and sale of organic cotton handicrafts. This initiative boosts the local economy, creates job opportunities, and ultimately improves the quality of life and education standards of the residents.

Additionally, Shen Xinning, who plans to establish a free cross-strait educational website, is just 21 years old, making her the youngest recipient in the program’s history. Currently a sophomore in university, Shen, coming from a disadvantaged background, deeply understands that education is the only way out. She is committed to securing equal learning opportunities for underprivileged children and has built the “AnAn Free Education Website” using her expertise to help a wide range of disadvantaged students strengthen their knowledge and learning.

This year’s dream recipients include Yu Xinyi, who is dedicating her life to tracking the footprints of the humpback dolphin in an effort to raise public awareness about ecological conservation; Chen Yanbo, who is only 23 years old and is about to embark on an expedition to the Arctic to endure temperatures as low as -37°C; Gao Zhengzhong, who helps underprivileged children continue on the path to higher education; Zhan Jialong, who is committed to laying the foundation for education to preserve the vibrant life of Taiwan’s purple crow butterflies; Xu Mingqian, who is building a volunteer trail center with love and sweat in hopes of transforming the relationship between humans and nature; Zhao Jianmin, who is using digital technology to archive sign language culture and open up a new dawn of life for Taiwan’s hearing-impaired community; and Huang Yingxiong, who is producing live-recorded movie narrations to open the window of art for visually impaired individuals.

Since its launch in late September 2009, the sixth “KEEP WALKING Dream Grant Program” has gone through a three-phase selection process—preliminary review, secondary review, and final review. Ten recipients were selected based on four criteria: the “positive social impact” of their dreams, “creativity/forward-thinking,” the “feasibility of realizing their dreams,” and the “consistency in pursuing their dreams.” Each awardee will receive approximately NT$1 million in “Dream Starter Grants,” bringing the total prize money to NT$10 million.

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Extended Reading: Enjoying a Barrier-Free Architectural Experience (Provided by Tripass Attractions)