On July 30, the Social Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government held a forum called “Citizen Café for Volunteer Capital and Social Enterprises” at the municipal building located on Taiwan Boulevard. Attending the forum were 100 representatives from social welfare groups, social enterprises, non-profit organizations and so forth. The forum aimed to draw blueprints for non-profit organizations, social enterprises, and youth business ventures, and the conclusions from the brainstorming and discussion sessions can be a good reference for future policy formulation and implementation, said the Social Affairs Bureau.

Breaking away from the traditions and stereotypes of conferences, the “Citizen Café” meetings were presided over by executives of non-profit organizations who served as team chiefs for members sitting on long tables. Ten topics, including “social empowerment projects”, “time banks”, “social enterprises”, “non-profit organizations” and “sustainable development”, were discussed in three stages. Participants shared ideas, found new action opportunities, and reached consensus, said the Social Affairs Bureau.

For example, when the “volunteer capital” topic was discussed, participants not only stressed the importance of a complete training system for the volunteers but also asked the volunteer groups to strengthen their own internal training and encourage volunteers to build up the concept of self-learning and self-growth. Someone even proposed a breakthrough concept to allow those people assisted or aided by volunteers to serve the volunteers and/or the community, pointed out the Social Affairs Bureau.

When the “non-profit organizations” topic was in session, participants focused on how social enterprise scan achieve sustainable development, control their product quality, promote their product, retain repeated customers, and carry out their missions. They also proposed to set up a resource platform through which to establish the talent database and consolidate relevant knowledge for a better development of social welfare programs.

Lue Jen-der (呂建德), Director-general of Social Affairs Bureau, said “The Citizen Cafe forum triggers our reflection on related issues and participants can share their knowledge and ideas. It shall stimulate the society and bring in good effects. Conclusions on each topic from the forum will serve as a good reference for our future policy formulation and implementation.”