CALD Women’s Caucus Launches Inaugural Women Mentorship Program in Taiwan

“Building sisterhood across borders.”

This appears to be the maxim of the women’s wing of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) as it officially launched its first-ever Asian Women Education Mentorship Program in Taipei on 8-11 August 2025. The two-day event blended networking activities through inspiring keynote messages, strategic planning workshops, cross-generational exchanges, and roundtable discussions, marking the start of a journey to strengthen women’s political leadership and civic engagement across Asia.

The program opened on 8 August with a welcome dinner, bringing together women and youth participants from across the CALD network. “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success”, CALD Secretary General Blue Abaya said, quoting Henry Ford as he welcomes the delegation. It was an evening of warm introductions, shared stories, and first steps toward building bonds that will carry through the mentorship journey. 

On 9 August, the women kickstarted the day with a group pledge sealing their commitment to the journey of standing together for their growth, their purpose, and their shared responsibility as leaders. This was followed by a symbolic hand printing of the eight (8) mentees on the program’s commitment board, marking the start of their three-month mentorship journey. The momentum carried on with motivational messages from the program’s mentors and leadership coaches starting with CALD Women’s Caucus Chairperson Jaslyn Go, and then former Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo and former Thai Member of Parliament Rachada Dhnadirek, setting the tone for a program rooted in resilience, leadership, and inclusive governance. The morning continued with a framework-setting session led by Chit Asis of People Power Volunteers For Reform (PPVR), outlining the foundational and transformative relationship between good governance and women’s empowerment.

In the middle of the day, participants attended a lunch hosted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the presence of another prominent woman political leader, Taiwan Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao, marking a memorable moment of solidarity and shared values among democratic leaders in Asia. “Over the years, we’ve seen members of CALD grow and some of us have run into trouble or difficulties, but despite all of the ups and downs, we have all stuck together not only as a family, but with each other and supporting each other in dealing with challenges together. And I think that’s what the spirit of CALD is all about.” Hsiao, who identified herself as a true member of the CALD family, emphasized that leadership is not a solo journey but one built on community rooted in principle, driven by purpose, and walked on by people who stay curious and committed to learning, unlearning, and reimagining leadership.

The afternoon was dedicated for the mentees to engage in strategic planning activities facilitated by Kwankaow Kongdecha from King Prajadhipok’s Institute Office of Innovation for Democracy, followed by a joint seminar entitled, Defending Democracy’s Front Lines: Taiwan, the Philippines, and the Fight Against Authoritarian Interference, organized by DPP. Speakers included Philippine Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming-Chi Chen, and Chihhao Yu, Co-director of the Taiwan Information Environment Research Center (IORG). The session was moderated by Dr. I-chung Lai of the Prospect Foundation. The day concluded with a joint dinner, fostering deeper discussions and partnerships.

The final day, 10 August, began with a morning walk to the Social Innovation Lab for a rich and stimulating roundtable discussion with Taiwan legislators Fan Yun and Ngalim Tiunn, moderated by Atty. Yen Jong Lee of DPP’s Gender Department. “Gender equality is just as essential to our identity as anti-communism and democratic values…but the path to dismantling misogyny in politics is a long one. Women in politics still face sexual harassment, body-shaming, and the glass ceiling – even within their own parties.” Drawing from the speakers’ experiences, Lee offered strategic advice to the women mentees to build a strong circle of cheerleaders and allies vital not only in challenging sexism but also in safeguarding mental well-being. She also urged the group to shift their perspective on younger women not as competition, but as sisters to lead, guide, and protect, just as they once hoped a mentor would have done for them.

A joint lunch at a local Taiwanese restaurant offered participants a taste of the richness of local culture before returning to the program for a mentee-mentor check-in session, sharing glimpses of their ideas for their individual projects. This was followed by a joint session on the Responsible Use of AI in Campaigns, organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation(FNF) Global Innovation Hub, with insights from Professor Richy Li of the National Chengchi University.

The program concluded with a synthesis session recognizing the contributions of all participants, affirming the mentees’ vision of fostering a sisterhood united by a shared vision of women’s empowerment — one that goes beyond simply taking up space, but fully committing to ensure that women seated at every decision-making table bring and champion female perspectives, not only on gender issues, but on all issues, alongside men. Abaya capped the day with recognitions and heartfelt closing remarks with Michael Chen of DPP International Affairs and Thekla Ebbert of FNF SEEA.

The CALD Asian Women Education Mentorship Program now moves forward to its regional skills training phase with a united commitment to be present, to lead, and to empower with humility and intention knowing that who they are becoming matters as much as where they are going. As Go reminded them, “Your presence here is a testament to your courage and commitment. We know the political situations in your home countries can be challenging, but you’ve chosen to step forward and invest in yourselves. That bravery is exactly what this program is about. We hope the skills and connections you gain will not only benefit you, but also inspire you to become mentors yourselves one day.”

With this spirit, the journey continues – together, stronger, and filled with hope for what lies ahead.

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This post was written by CALD