Organization Introduction

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“Building Bridges”, initiated in 2008 by Yale University’s student organization Building Bridges, is dedicated to youth care and educational practice activities. The program consists of volunteer teachers who are university students from prestigious institutions such as Yale University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University of Hong Kong, and Renmin University of China, along with high school student teaching assistants selected globally. The mission is to unite passionate young individuals from China and the United States to carry out educational and social practice activities in underdeveloped regions of China every summer. Through these initiatives, the program aims to support the development and reform of local primary and secondary education while cultivating young talents with international perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility.

Organizational Philosophy

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「The purpose of education is not to fill a bucket but to light a fire.」

Initiating Discussions on Uncommon Topics in Daily Life

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Mental health, sex education, gender equality…

Initiate conversations about issues that are not likely to be discussed in rural/underdeveloped Chinese high schools: mental health, sex education,gender equality …etc.

Encouraging High School Students to Understand Themselves

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Volunteers will maintain long-term connections with students even after the program ends.

Encourage Chinese high schoolers to understand their communities and continue the discussion during the school year

Fostering Dialogue on Educational Equality Between Urban and Rural Students

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Initiate a dialogue between urban and rural Chinese students about education equality

Core Values

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Empowerment Model

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Volunteers from different universities will encourage local Chinese high school students to explore the world from various perspectives, understand, and participate in their communities, learning how to bring about change.

Peer Education

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Volunteers will design peer-assisted learning sessions in addition to regular courses, engaging students in discussions on topics such as mental health, gender inequality, and more.

Interdisciplinary Curriculum

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The curriculum focuses on contemporary social issues in China and incorporates knowledge from students’ fields of interest to create interdisciplinary courses (e.g., Gender Equality + Theater, Mental Health + Music).