A massive, enthusiastic group shot from the "Superhero Gathering" (超人聚)! Over a hundred participants, both in-person and online via the projection screen, pose together with raised hands and big smiles. | Photo: Pei-Hsuan Li (李佩璇)

From Local Response to National Training

In the wake of disasters, recovery efforts rely on the active involvement of young people equipped with initiative, sound judgment, and empathy. The Guangfu flood relief effort highlighted the immense passion of Taiwan's youth, but also the need for organized training. To cultivate this new generation of skilled volunteers, the Tzu Chi Foundation hosted the "Superhero Gathering – Disaster Relief Assembly" on November 2, 2025, at the Xindian Jing Si Hall.

This event invited youth volunteers aged 15 to 40 to participate in a comprehensive program designed to turn their desire to help into tangible, effective action for affected communities. With over 200 participants both online and in person, the gathering reinforced Tzu Chi's commitment to building a resilient, national volunteer force.

The Five Pillars of Disaster Response

The "Superhero Gathering" was designed to instill five crucial disaster relief "Superpowers" through five thematic lectures, workshops, and interactive games. Participants applied their problem-solving skills in a seven-stage puzzle game to unlock virtual essentials like shovels and mobile meal trucks. | Photo: Pei-Hsuan Li (李佩璇)

The gathering aimed to instill five crucial "Superpowers" needed for modern disaster relief. The training included five thematic lectures, practical workshops, and interactive games, covering specialized aspects of disaster preparedness and response:

  • Judgment Superpower: Focused on disaster assessment and strategic planning, enhancing volunteers' ability to make immediate and effective decisions in affected areas.
  • Action Superpower: Emphasized practical skills and material readiness, familiarizing volunteers with cleaning procedures, material sorting, and logistical support.
  • Protection Superpower: Introduced concepts of rescue safety and medical care, boosting volunteers' self-protection awareness and equipping them with basic medical support capabilities.
  • Companionship Superpower: Centered on psychological care and emotional support, training volunteers to provide stable emotional companionship and empathetic listening in disaster zones.
  • Collaboration Superpower: Strengthened teamwork and integrated reconstruction efforts, fostering communication and resource coordination among volunteers to improve overall operational efficiency.

To make learning interactive, participants were first divided into teams to navigate a seven-stage puzzle game, challenging their observational skills and problem-solving to unlock virtual "treasures" like shovels and mobile meal trucks.

Inspiration from the 'Shovel Superhero'

This panel discussion features young volunteers and community leaders sharing their powerful experiences from the recent Guangfu flood relief efforts. On the panel, Scott Liu (second from left), Deputy CEO of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, also shared how Tzu Chi utilizes GIS technology to streamline and organize the complex relief work. | Photo: Pei-Hsuan Li (李佩璇)

The event was energized by sharing sessions from youth volunteers who had actively participated in the recent Guangfu flood relief:

Jui-Cheng Su (蘇睿承) and his father, Chin-Hsiung Su (蘇進雄), were moved to action after seeing the severe damage in Guangfu. They documented their efforts, including a video of Chin-Hsiung Su "playing in the mud," which gained significant traction on social media and inspired more volunteers to join the "shovel superheros". Chin-Hsiung Su shared that digging in Guangfu helped him clear away negative energy from his own mind.

Content creator Po-Chih Chan (詹愽智) was inspired by Chin-Hsiung Su’s video and went to Guangfu. There, he joined others, focusing their efforts on remote areas and homes inaccessible to heavy machinery. Chan described digging in Guangfu as one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life.

Scott Liu (劉效成), Deputy CEO of the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, expressed admiration for the young people's love for their homeland, noting that Tzu Chi developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) to streamline cleaning and organizing efforts in Guangfu.

A Market of Gratitude and Connection

A musical performance at the "Quietly Walking Market," a healing and gratitude event concurrent with the "Superhero Gathering." | Photo: Pei-Hsuan Li (李佩璇)

Concurrent with the training, the "Quietly Walking Market" (靜靜走市集) PART 2, themed "Saluting Superhero, Restoring with Love," was held outside the Xindian Jing Si Hall. This market offered handmade goods, storytelling, and musical performances, serving as a space for gratitude, healing, and community connection. It encouraged the public to support reconstruction and motivated everyone to become a "superman" in someone else's life.

The "Superhero Gathering" is a long-term strategy to empower young disaster relief volunteers with judgment, action, and empathy, injecting new energy and organized capability into Taiwan's disaster response.

Written by Tzu Chi Foundation, Pei-Hsuan Li (李佩璇)

Source: 青年志工集結「超人聚」　災後行動力全面升級