Visiting Shanghai & World Expo 2010, Wuxi, & Environs
To promote exchange and friendship between teenagers of different countries, the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (Shanghai Youxie) and the Shanghai Youth Federation will jointly sponsor the sixth annual Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp August 2-13, 2010, in Shanghai.
The camp program, which will be conducted in English, will include experiences in Chinese language and culture, touring Shanghai (including 2 days at the World Expo 2010), and 1 night in Wuxi on Lake Tai (Taihu). Campers will experience a 1-day/1-night homestay with a Shanghai family.
The camp will include youths, male and female, 12-18 years old, from several countries. Most youth come in a group. Teachers are encouraged to organize a group from their school or community center. Participants are responsible for international airfare and visas, and will pay Shanghai Youxie $60/day for 12 days in China. Adult family members may accompany youth at the same cost.
USCPFA is not sponsoring this tour, but can provide assistance with travel arrangements, visas, and orientation, if requested, for a nominal fee. If there are at least 5 participants, USCPFA may provide an escort from the US gateway city to Shanghai and back to the US gateway for youth 12-18 years old, with the escort’s cost (about $2,200) to be shared by the participants.
Itinerary details and application forms are available by request from . You can contact Shanghai Youxie directly by emailing Ms. Giovanna LIN (Xiaoying) at giovannalin@yahoo.com.
Shanghai, Nanchang & Jiangxi Province, Beijing – Apply by June 1
In September, National Youxie will sponsor a Friendship Cities Conference in Shanghai (to involve China’s sister cities from all over the world), and a Friendship Forum in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province (to involve participants from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and other English-speaking countries). In addition to attending conference/forum sessions, delegates will visit the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and tour in Jiangxi Province, where the Long March began.
Youxie has invited USCPFA to send a delegation of 10 people. USCPFA will select delegates by application from members active in USCPFA. Application forms and process will be E-mailed to chapter presidents by May 1, and will be available on the USCPFA website (www.uscpfa.org) and from Barbara Cobb
. As a part of the application, each applicant will briefly describe his/her professional background and community activities, interest in China, any special interests/requests for this tour, & involvement with USCPFA and other China-related organizations or activities.
Cost: Airfare (est. $1,000-$1,300) plus $1,000 to USCPFA for visa, orientation, and arrangements. This tour is part of USCPFA’s continuing exchange with Youxie, which will host the group in China. Income from the tour will be used to cover the cost of hosting future Youxie delegations to the U.S, and other USCPFA programming.
APPLY BY JUNE 1 by sending your application, bio (as described above), and $300 deposit to Tour Coordinator Barbara Cobb, at address below. (The tour deposit will be returned if the applicant is not selected.) The USCPFA Executive Committee will review applications and select delegates, and all applicants will be notified by June 15. Applicants selected as delegates will submit the final payment of $700 to USCPFA by July 1. The Tour Coordinator will designate group flights & gateways (one east or midwest, another on west coast, as needed), and delegates will pay for flights directly with an airline or travel agent. (Delegates can travel to/from China independently, but transfers in China will be covered only for those who travel with the group.)
Applications are available now.
Tour condition information is also avaialable.
The US-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) has been taking travelers to China since the 1970s. USCPFA has the opportunity to take a group of 9 educators (plus a USCPFA tour leader) to China for 10 days in 2010, hosted by Youxie (the Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship with Foreign Countries). In order to visit schools and meet educators in China, the delegation must be in China while their school is open; we hope some American teachers, principals, and others will be able to take time off for this tour, October 15-26, 2010. APPLICATION DEADLINE is JULY 15, but talk with us earlier to contribute your ideas for itinerary and activities, and dates you are available.
The Educators’ Tour is designed to give participants a first-hand look at China and its education system, and an opportunity to meet and talk with educators in China. Exposing educators to China first-hand multiplies the effects of these efforts because educators touch so many people, and especially young people.
ORIENTATION with written materials, links to resources, and Q&A will be provided before departure.
TOUR ACTIVITIES in China will include visiting schools at several levels (basic primary, middle, & high school, vocational school, and college) and meeting educators, officials, and researchers, and sharing information--as well as touring historical and cultural sites. The delegation will visit Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai.
APPLICANTS will be persons who are involved with academic or vocational education at the K-12 and university level as teachers, principals, and administrators, and whose effectiveness can be enhanced by learning more about China and its educational system. USCPFA membership is NOT required. In selecting delegates,preference will be given to teachers, principals, and administrators who have NOTlived in China, and who work in/with schools that offer courses in Chinese language & culture - See the Complete Details (pdf).
Interested persons will contact Barbara Cobb, Tour Coordinator at now to receive updated information as it is available.