Socrates once said, "Education is not the filling of a vessel, but the kindling of a flame."
In this rapidly changing era, education is not just about passing on knowledge and skills. More importantly, it aims to ignite the flame of critical thinking within each person, making independent thought and dialogue a source of light for society. When people become used to engaging in kind conversations and are willing to listen and understand one another, we can light the way toward a brighter future.
In 2024, Lead For Taiwan is guided by the mission "Light Up the Critical Thinking Generation." We carry this belief forward by continuing to train critical thinking instructors, bringing critical thinking into high school classrooms, and hosting the International Forum on Critical Thinking Education, where educators, experts, and students from diverse fields can inspire one another. We also launched the Taiwan Critical Thinking Education Survey, using data to document the real challenges and hopes within the education system. This will help provide clearer direction for future education reforms.
Our work has been recognized by programs such as Future Changemakers, Why Not Generation Social Impact Accelerator, and Tzu Chi’s Fun Vision for the Future. Yet, what we value most is the spark we see in students' eyes during class, and the deep reflections and inspiration that emerge from every genuine conversation.
By choosing critical thinking, we are choosing a world filled with warmth and possibility. We invite you to join us in keeping this light alive and shining, to help illuminate the future of this generation together.
林祐良 (Bob LIN)
Co-Founder & CEO
Message from Our CEO
As you open this annual report, perhaps you’re holding hope for the future of education in Taiwan, or maybe you’re simply curious about Lead For Taiwan. Whatever brought you here, I hope you’ll see the greater possibilities that education holds.
This report is not about self-praise. It is a reflection of real, ongoing efforts — a movement to make critical thinking education accessible to all, initiated by a group of passionate young people.
2024’s Influence
3872
Total People Affected in 2024
Total Trainees Certified as Trainers
21
1748
Students Who Attended High School Critical Thinking Courses
61
Individuals Who Joined the Camps
Partner Institutions (+4 New Additions)
22
Teaching Locations
(+1 New County/City)
9
914
Teaching Hours Delivered in Schools (+164 Hours)
2063
Total Participants in Events
15
Community Forums and Workshops
Work Performance Summary
Impact Results:
2,033 Forum Participants
28 Speakers Representing 6 Countries
11 Forums & Lectures
3 Workshops
1 Educators’ Evening
8.9 Satisfaction Score (10-point Scale)
"As critical thinking becomes a key topic in global education, Taiwan can be more than just a follower—it can be a driving force for change."
Therefore, starting in 2024, we have actively begun exploring the possibilities of teacher training programs. Looking ahead, we aim to continuously host national and international events to provide and connect more resources for critical thinking education in Taiwan. Our goal is to transform critical thinking education from theory into practical learning methods that help Taiwan’s education system move closer to its ideal policy objectives.
We are very pleased to have received numerous invitations and inquiries from schools interested in offering critical thinking courses and organizing teacher training workshops following the forum. Change is quietly taking place.
After attending the forum,
I would like to further explore critical thinking education.：95%
Future Outlook
In 2024, Lead For Taiwan is moving more steadily and purposefully along the path of critical thinking education. We are not just teaching classes or hosting lectures; we want to accompany more students, teachers, and even the entire society in discovering how to maintain rational, warm, and open dialogue in this rapidly changing world. Moving forward, we will focus on the following areas:
1. Build a comprehensive learning system to make critical thinking not just a short-term course but a lasting impact.
We will continue to develop teaching materials and lesson plans, while establishing more comprehensive certification and training systems to bring more instructors on board and introduce critical thinking education to more schools. At the same time, we will collaborate with textbook publishers and experts both domestically and internationally to develop materials that truly meet the needs of classrooms. Our goal is for critical thinking education to go beyond being just an elective course and become a learning experience accessible to every student.
2. Support teachers’ growth to benefit more students.
Teachers are the key influencers in students’ lives. Rather than simply introducing critical thinking courses into schools, we hope teachers can comfortably integrate critical thinking into their daily teaching. Therefore, moving forward, we will continue to hold teacher training workshops and international forums so that teachers not only "teach" knowledge but also guide students to think critically, making critical thinking truly a part of everyday life.
3. Steadily expand courses to root critical thinking education across Taiwan.
Our goal is to bring critical thinking education to schools all across Taiwan. However, we know that passion alone isn’t enough to achieve this. We will first establish stable course models in areas like Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan, Yilan, and Hsinchu to ensure quality and accumulate experience. Once our resources and influence grow sufficiently, we will gradually expand so that more students can receive systematic critical thinking training in the classroom.
4. Facilitate Taiwan’s dialogue with the world and showcase the value of critical thinking to a broader audience.
We believe that critical thinking education is not only essential for Taiwan but also a topic of global interest. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchanges, providing opportunities for Taiwanese educators to engage with experts worldwide. We also aim to let more people in Taiwan experience the power of critical thinking through public events. Critical thinking is not just a subject—it is a vital skill that helps us better understand the world and communicate with others.
Lead For Taiwan will keep moving forward, working together with everyone to make critical thinking more than just a school course—it will become a shared culture for our generation.
Support Us
We believe education has the power to change the world; critical thinking can help build a better society for Taiwan.
From high school critical thinking courses, youth trainer training programs, winter and summer empowerment camps, public workshops and forums, to teacher training, LFT is dedicated to popularizing critical thinking education. We strive to give students across Taiwan the opportunity to access high-quality critical thinking resources, breaking the myth and barriers of elite education. Through critical thinking training, issue discussions, and presentations of outcomes, students move beyond rote memorization to develop their own critical thinking methods and internalize what they have learned.
We invite you who care about Taiwan’s education and youth development to support LFT through your actions. Together, let’s bring better education to Taiwan and fulfill our shared mission of spreading critical thinking education across the entire country.
“Together towards a better tomorrow.”
