On June 27, local time, the Confucius Institute at the Cleveland State University (CSU), U.S., held the pre-departure meeting for the 2015 “Chinese Bridge” Summer Camp. Guests attending this event were around 20 education officials in the Cleveland, including Marcia L. Fudge, Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives; Eric Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD); Myrna Loy Corley, Superintendent of the East Cleveland City School District; Rev. Dr. Curtis T. Walker, President of the Akron Public Schools Board of Education; Diane Hunsbarger, Principal of Shaw High School; and all members of the Board of Shaw High School. Also attending the event were Zhu Jianping, CSU Senior Vice Provost; Anthony Yen, Chair of the Trustee Council of Confucius Institute at CSU; Zhou Haigang, Director of the Confucius Institute; and the 48 members of the “Chinese Bridge” Summer Camp and their parents.

In her speech, Marcia L. Fudge hoped that young students could have better educational opportunities and she would like to further promote the cultural exchange between the youth in China and the U.S.. As a pivotal world power, China is a nation that students must know about in order to raise their awareness about multiculturalism on their path to becoming world leaders in the future. This “Chinese Bridge” Summer Camp offers the students a perfect opportunity to find out more about the world, understand the history, expand their horizon and improve themselves. She also highly commended the Confucius Institute at CSU for its achievements in Chinese language education and China-U.S. cultural exchanges in recent years and expressed her willingness in deepening the cooperation with the Confucius Institute. Finally, she encouraged every member of the summer camp to serve as an outstanding “ambassador” for the U.S. and a facilitator to China-U.S. cultural exchange.

Congresswoman Fudge delivering her speech at the pre-departure meeting

While addressing the event, Mr. Gordon pointed out that Chinese language education has been very popular in schools and discovering China has always been a dream for many students. He expressed his thanks to the Congresswoman’s Office for its cooperation with the Confucius Institute, which offers a precious opportunity of education to students from low-income families. Ms. Corley said that although Chinese language teaching has not been fully launched in her school district, around 10 students have sign up for this program this year. She hoped that her school district would strengthen its cooperation with the Confucius Institute in the future.

On behalf of the Confucius Institute at CSU, Mr. Zhu Jianping expressed his gratitude to the education officials of different school districts for their support in promoting Chinese language programs of the Confucius Institute. He also sent his best wishes to all 48 members of the summer camp and hoped that they would have a colorful and enjoyable trip in China.

At the pre-departure meeting

A student representative delivering a speech

Later, on behalf of all members of the Summer Camp, Allison from Akron and Anthony from East Cleveland School District made their remarks respectively. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Congresswoman Fudge and the Confucius Institute for their cooperation in offering subsidies to students from low-income families. They also said that, during their stay in China, they would try their best to make their own contribution to cultural exchange.

A group photo of all attendees of the meeting

It is learned that the Confucius Institute at CSU has held the “Chinese Bridge” Summer Camp for five consecutive years since 2010. For this year, the School District of Congresswoman Fudge’s Constituency and Hanban jointly offer financial support to 20 students from low-income family to subsidize their trip in China. The successful collaboration with Congresswoman Fudge brings the Confucius Institute greater influence and a better public image in local communities, laying a more solid foundation for the Institute’s comprehensive development in the future.