FET Sustainability Vanguard Initiative Empowers Rural Youth: A Historic International Debut and Silver Medal for Rui-Yuan Archery Team

In a historic milestone for rural education and sports, the archery team from Rui-Yuan Primary School in Taitung County represented Taiwan at the 14th National Inter-School Archery Championships 2025 in Singapore this July. Competing on the world stage for the first time, the team secured a prestigious second-place finish in the Recurve Under-15 (U15) Women’s Team category. Organized by the Archery Association of Singapore and the Olympic Foundation, this event marked the first international journey for these young athletes from a remote community, proving that with perseverance and support, dreams can cross borders. (Photo Credit: FET)

Overcoming Adversity Through Resilience

Coach Chiu Ling-li, who has led the team for 13 years, reflected on the challenging journey from having no budget or professional equipment to competing overseas. "In the beginning, we practiced with second-hand arrows and targets patched with tape," Chiu recalled. She expressed deep gratitude to Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) and other supporters for enabling the children to wear their national team uniforms and showcase their talents globally. (Photo Credit: FET)

The competition provided invaluable life lessons for the students:

• Wang-Ong, Yu-tang demonstrated exceptional composure by winning a first-round tie-breaker against a Hong Kong opponent with a perfect 10-point arrow. "Seeing my name on the team uniform was incredibly moving," he shared, noting that the experience has only fueled his passion for the sport.
• Li Jia-xin shared the excitement of her first trip abroad, competing against top-tier international teams. Despite the pain of a burst blister during the match, she persevered to the end, learning the value of grit when facing world-class competitors.

Far EasTone: A Steadfast Partner in Sustainable Development

Since 2023, Far EasTone has been a cornerstone of support for the Rui-Yuan Archery Team through its "Sustainability Vanguard" initiative. The company has invested over NT$1 million to provide professional training equipment, competition uniforms, and essential consumables. Upon learning of the team’s international qualification, FET also provided a special "nutrition grant" to ensure the athletes could focus entirely on their performance without financial worry.
FET’s commitment to rural youth extends beyond sports. Since 2020, the "Sustainability Vanguard" initiative — a collaboration involving 115 suppliers — has completed numerous infrastructure projects, including:
•    Renovating the basketball court at Bin-Mao Junior High in Taitung.
•    Establishing a Technology Classroom at Wanli Primary School in New Taipei.
•    Providing cold storage facilities for the Hualien Food Bank.
•    Constructing the Luye Children’s Care Classroom in Taitung.

A Vision for a Promising Future

Coach Chiu emphasizes that international competition is about more than medals; it is about showing children that their dreams are achievable. Her ultimate goal is to establish a comprehensive training pipeline from primary school through university, potentially producing future members of the national team. Through the continued partnership with Far EasTone, these children from remote areas are proving that they belong on the world stage.