DIMAPUR: Livino K, a young learner from the Sumi community of Yemishe village, Zunheboto district, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. She will soon embark on a six month study programme in Taiwan.
Livino’s journey into Mandarin began in 2025 through the Taiwan Education Center at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU). What started as curiosity soon became a serious pursuit, as she mastered the fundamentals of tones, pinyin, character writing and daily vocabulary. In March 2026, she cleared the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) at Novice level, qualifying her for the competitive scholarship.
Her teacher, Kuei Mi Li, praised Livino’s dedication despite challenges of erratic power supply and unstable internet in her remote village. “She spared no effort to attend almost every class, even under highly unfavourable conditions,” Li recalled.
Expressing joy at her selection, Livino said the scholarship would be “life changing,” covering tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend. She aims to immerse herself in a Mandarin speaking environment, experience Taiwanese culture, and advance to higher TOCFL levels. In the long term, she hopes to use her skills to strengthen India Taiwan ties.
Encouraging other youth from the Northeast, Livino noted that Mandarin “trains the brain to think differently” and opens doors to global opportunities. Li added that the Taiwan government annually offers the Huayu Scholarship, providing a stipend of 28,000 NTD (approx. Rs. 80,000), and that several of her students from Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have already secured scholarships and jobs with Taiwanese firms in India.
