NTU PhD student from Tanzania gives moving speech at commencement
NTU PhD student from Tanzania gives moving speech at commencement
2026-06-01
Taiwan’s top university, National Taiwan University held its 2026 commencement ceremonies on Saturday. The highlight of the event was none other than the moving speech made by a PhD student named Nathan from Tanzania. Long before a PhD in environmental engineering, he was a gifted kid who grew up in poverty. A chance encounter with the late Dr. Jane Goodall changed his life, allowing him to go to boarding school and eventually come to Taiwan. He says that his dream is to build a school in his hometown, so that kids like him could also turn their life around through education.
He thanks his professors in Taigi. This is Nathan Thadeo Yoashi from Tanzania. He was the representative for international students at National Taiwan University’s commencement on Saturday. His story is nothing short of extraordinary.
Nathan Thadeo Yoashi
NTU Representative for Class of 2026
Every day, I would just find a small piece of sweet potato, and swallow it down with water. Because I had no shoes, my father would use a thick needle before bed to pry out the thorns and parasites embedded in my feet. Taiwan has not only granted me knowledge. It has given me a warm and loving home.
In his eighth year in Taiwan, Nathan is not only graduating with a PhD from National Taiwan University. He’s also happily married with a son. His speech has gone viral, touching everyone with his resilience, gratitude and the spirit of paying it forward.
Nathan Thadeo Yoashi
NTU Representative for Class of 2026
I am still that child who survived on half a sweet potato and unfiltered water. I am still that child who had no electricity and could only study under the glow of the moonlight. Fortunately, with Dr. Jane Goodall’s full financial sponsorship, I was able to study at a boarding school.
While in elementary school, he was a top student and learned to speak English better than everyone else, and so he was selected to interpret for Jane Goodall, who was conducting research nearby, when she visited his school. Under her recommendation and sponsorship, he eventually went on to study in boarding school in Tanzania, and later arrived in Taiwan for university. Nathan says that now that he has the ability, he will carry Jane Goodall’s legacy forward by giving back.
Nathan Thadeo Yoashi
NTU Representative for Class of 2026
We are working hard to solve the agricultural, soil and water resource issues caused by mining pollution. I save half of my stipend every month to sponsor five children back home, so that they can go to school. My dream is to build a school in my hometown, to give to more children who are just like me.
Nathan says that his dream is to build a school in his hometown, so that kids who grew up in poverty like him could have the chance to change their destinies through education.
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#NTU #highereducation #touching #viral #graduation #tanzania
坦尚尼亞貧童拿到台大博士學位 內森喊話"為家鄉蓋學校"
2026-06-01
台灣大學30日舉行畢業典禮，今年的國際生致詞代表是來自坦尚尼亞的環工所博士生內森，他敘述自己幼時窮困，靠月光讀書，因為動物學家珍古德的鼓勵援助，才來到台灣學習，台灣不只給他知識，更給他一個溫暖的家，講到激動處一度哽咽，全場師生報以熱烈掌聲，場面相當動人。
大聲用台語，向系所老師表達感謝之意，來自坦尚尼亞的內森，作為台大國際生致詞代表，飄洋過海來台灣念書，這一路走來，相當不容易！
[[台大環工所博士班畢業生 內森]]
“(小時候)每天我只能找到一小塊地瓜，配著水吞下去，而且因為沒有鞋子穿，睡前爸爸會用粗的針，把(我)腳上的刺和寄生蟲挑出來，台灣不僅給予我知識，更給予我一個溫暖的家”
已來台8年的內森，不只取得博士學位，更在台灣娶妻生子、落地生根。致詞時更不忘飲水思源，甚至一度講到哽咽，感動全場。
[[台大環工所博士班畢業生 內森]]
“我還是那顆靠半顆地瓜，和沒有過濾水活下來的孩子，因為沒有電，需要在月光下讀書的孩子，幸好有了珍古德全額資助，讓我放心住校學習”
儘管出身清寒，內森依舊勤奮向學，因緣際會下，成為知名動物學家珍古德的翻譯，並在她的資助完成學業，更一舉獲得推薦來到台灣就學，現在他已經有能力，將這份善的力量傳遞下去。
[[台大環工所博士班畢業生 內森]]
“我們努力解決因為採礦產生汙染，土壤，農業和水資源問題，我每個月省下一半的生活費，資助家鄉的五個小孩上學，我的夢想是在家鄉蓋一所學校，幫助更多像我一樣的小孩”
喊話夢想要回家鄉興建學校，盼望幫助更多，向他一樣的窮苦孩子，藉由教育，成功翻轉人生。
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