Contact Us#
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Organization Introduction#
“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#
“The purpose of education is not to fill a bucket but to light a fire.”
Initiating Discussions on Uncommon Topics in Daily Life#
Mental health, sex education, gender equality…
Encouraging High School Students to Understand Themselves#
Volunteers will maintain long-term connections with students even after the program ends, encouraging 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#
Breaking the cognitive gap between county students and urban peers, and promoting in-depth dialogue about education equality.
Core Values#
Empowerment Model#
Volunteers from different universities in China and the US 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#
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#
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).
Project Objectives#
Empowering Students’ Diverse Growth#
Addressing the core competency development needs of high school students through interdisciplinary courses (AI, mental health, sex education, literary analysis, etc.) and immersive practices (PBL project-based learning, cross-cultural workshops), inspiring students’ self-directed learning motivation and cultivating independent thinking and innovative collaboration skills.
Access to Quality Resources#
Bringing together 30+ volunteers from top universities worldwide including Yale, Peking University, and the University of Hong Kong (covering STEM, humanities, medicine, arts, etc.) to form a cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural education practice team. Students from five universities form a “peer mentorship team” through one-on-one exchanges and career sharing sessions.
Introducing PBL Learning Model#
Combining immersive practice projects (Project-Based Learning) with “real problem-driven learning” at its core, guiding students from “passive listeners” to “active doers,” mastering complex problem-solving skills through “learning by doing.”
Partners#
- Yale-China Association: Founded in 1901, dedicated to promoting education, health, and cultural understanding between China and the US.
- PEER: A nonprofit educational organization focused on promoting peer-to-peer education in rural China.
- AiXin Foundation: Provides educational and financial help for children from economically disadvantaged families, caring about their mental and personality growth.
- Yale Beijing Center: Advancing Yale University’s mission to improve the world and develop leaders worldwide.