Golden Bridges launches Project Pengyou to Foster Online Community of US-China Alumni in Support of President Obama's 100,000 Strong Initiative
San Francisco, U.S.(April 20, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — The Golden Bridges Foundation, a nonprofit promoting mutual understanding between America and China, has just launched a new online platform to connect Americans that lived and studied in China. The website, called Project Pengyou, seeks to build an online community of Americans serving alumni groups from President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative and those that came to China previously.
President Obama unveiled the"100,000 Strong Initiative" during his 2009 visit to China, and Secretary Hillary Clinton officially launched the initiative in May 2010 in Beijing. Last Tuesday at the US-China Consultation on People to People Exchange held in Washington DC, State Councilor Liu Yandong announced that China would give out an additional 10,000 bridge scholarships to Americans for study in China, adding to the already committed 10,000 scholarships in support of 100,000 Strong. In January 2011, on the occasion of the state visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to enhance people-to-people engagement through educational exchanges.
Project Pengyou plans to be a catalyst for the 100,000 Strong Initiative promoting US-China ties by serving the community of Americans that have lived and studied in China. The site, now in its beta version, will begin with a focus on polling Americans about their experiences in China, offering a roundtrip plane ticket to China as a raffle prize to participants.
Later this year, the site plans to gather and highlight experiences and achievements by young Americans in China, and publish the top stories in a book to promote study abroad there. Over time, Project Pengyou plans to be a fully interactive website aiming to strengthen social and professional networking opportunities for American "China Alumni". "It is clear that virtually no global challenge can be met without US-China cooperation," said Carola McGiffert, Director of the 100,000 Strong Initiative. "Project Pengyou is an important development that can energize Americans and foster a positive approach towards Sino-US
relations."
Earlier this year, the US-based Ford Foundation provided a seed grant to Golden Bridges to create the Project Pengyou alumni network to help fuel momentum for the 100,000 Strong Initiative.
"I believe the Americans that studied and lived in China share a unique and transformative experience," said Holly Chang, Founder of The Golden Bridges Foundation. "Project Pengyou celebrates this, and offers a way to enhance their lifelong China education and experience."
To learn more, visit Project Pengyou online at http://projectpengyou.com.
About the 100,000 Strong Initiative
The 100,000 Strong Initiative aims to increase significantly the number of Americans who have the opportunity to study in China. Citing the strategic importance of the U.S.-China relationship, President Obama announced the Initiative in Shanghai in November 2009, and Secretary Clinton officially launched the effort in May 2010. The Initiative is designed to help educational institutions and private nonprofits establish or expand China study programs. It also seeks to reach communities that are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad, including minority, community college, and high school students, as well as students in the science and technology field and those pursuing advanced degrees in China studies. More information about the Initiative can be found at: www.state.gov/100000strong
About The Golden Bridges Foundation
Project Pengyou is a program of the Golden Bridges Foundation. Golden Bridges is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by a Chinese-American social entrepreneur in 2007. It has a unique track record of breakthrough civil society projects linking China and America. Its mission is to promote understanding between China and the West through the lens of charitable mission-driven projects. Past accomplishments include mobilizing the first China Youth Delegation to a UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, coordinating US-China youth climate workshops alongside UN Negotiations, supporting the launch of the Beijing-based China Foundation Center. Golden Bridges has worked with over 100 nonprofit organizations in China. http://www.goldenbridges.org/
Executive Bio of Founder
Holly Chang is a Chinese-American social entrepreneur based in Beijing and San Francisco. She has over 11 years of executive management experience in both the US and China, working on fast-tracked projects budgeted up to US$1.3 billion. She is the founder of the Golden Bridges Foundation and a trusted international advisor to many nonprofit practitioners in China. Ms. Chang has a background in civil engineering, psychology and business. She previously worked for United Parcel Service as a Plant Engineer in their operational hub in Louisville, KY. In 2007, Ms. Chang invested her life savings to start the GoldenBridges Foundation, and has since supported over 100 NGOs as a program accelerator and capacity builder.
Ms. Chang entered college at 16, and graduated with dual degrees in BS Civil Engineering & BS Psychology from the University of Kentucky, & she holds an MBA with thesis on the China market from Bellarmine University.
Program-Relevant Links:
1-minute Video Trailer (Youtube): http://youtu.be/OZaJuCUgr84
(Youku): http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjU4NzMyNzI0.html
Project Pengyou Website: www.projectpengyou.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Pengyou/176016725779369
Twitter: @projectpengyou
CONTACT INFORMATION
- Contact:
[email protected]
415-738-9644