Livino K from Nagaland wins Taiwan’s 2026 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship

Dimapur, June 1 (MExN): Livino K from the Sumi Naga community has been awarded the 2026 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. Hailing from Yemishe, a village in the Zunheboto district, the scholarship will enable Livino to undertake a six-month study trip to Taiwan, stated a press release received here. 

Livino’s engagement with Mandarin began unexpectedly in 2025 while exploring interdisciplinary learning opportunities. She came across the online Mandarin programme offered by the Taiwan Education Centre at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU). Attracted by the centre’s reputation, quality teaching, and access to standardised proficiency exams, she decided to enroll.

What started as curiosity soon turned into serious commitment. Over the next few months, Livino grasped the fundamentals of Mandarin, including the four tones, pinyin, basic character writing, and essential daily vocabulary.

By March 2026, she cleared the standardized Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL), earning a Novice-level certificate that qualified her to apply for the competitive scholarship.

An inspiring win
However, Livino’s path to success was far from seamless. Living in a remote part of Nagaland meant dealing with erratic power supplies and unstable internet connection.

Her Mandarin teacher, Kuei-Mi LI, recalled being moved by Livino’s relentless dedication. “Livino proved herself to be a remarkably sincere student from day one,” LI shared. “I was touched to see how she spared no effort to show up to almost every class, despite the highly unfavourable conditions of her far-flung location, like frequent power outages and a highly unstable network.”

With LI’s encouragement and recommendation, Livino applied for the Huayu scholarship. When the results were announced recently, she was “thrilled”.

“I know seats for this scholarship are highly limited, so being selected made me feel like my efforts and aspirations were truly valued,” Livino said. “Receiving the scholarship would be life-changing. It covers tuition fees, accommodation, and provides a monthly stipend, allowing me to focus entirely on my studies. It will also strengthen my bilingual abilities and create greater opportunities for my future career,” she explained. 

Looking ahead to her stay in Taiwan, Livino has set clear academic and cultural objectives. While the classes at ADBU gave her a strong foundation, she wants to immerse herself in a completely Mandarin-speaking environment to truly master the language. She is also eager to experience Taiwanese culture firsthand, from traditional festivals like the Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival to the local professional work ethic. In the near future, she aims to clear the TOCFL Band A2 or even B1 levels. In the long term, Livino hopes to use her language skills to strengthen ties between India and Taiwan.

She encourages other people from Northeast India to step out of their comfort zones and take the challenge as well. “Mandarin is not just a language; because of the tones and characters, it actually trains your brain to think differently,” Livino explained. “For students from the Northeast where opportunities to go abroad can be limited, this scholarship is an incredible gateway to global exposure while building a highly valuable skill.”

LI noted that Taiwan government provides Huayu Enrichment Scholarship annually to international learners, offering a monthly stipend of 28,000 NTD (approximately Rs 80,000 with the current exchange rate). Under Ms. LI’s guidance, as many as 20 students from her ADBU program, all hailing from Northeast states like Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, have received various scholarships. Several alumni are already working in Taiwanese companies operating within India.

“The objective of the scholarship is to equip learners with highly sought-after language skills, deepen their understanding of Taiwanese culture, and strengthen mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges between India and Taiwan,” LI said. “I hope the success stories of my students will inspire more learners from the Northeast to come forward and explore the incredible opportunities Taiwan has to offer.”