Asia-Pacific Civic Education Week

The Education Advancement Fund International (EAFI) is launching a new program in conjunction with the Center for Civic Education and Asia-Pacific Education Program every year from late January to early Feburary. The first Civic camp in 2005 was a huge success. Our governor, Linda Lingle, and our mayor, Mufi Hannemann met with our campers and gave them encouragement. This program targets students who are interested in civic education and multi-cultural studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean studies). All Chinese participants have participated in our summer camps in China. Some students from our local schools (Iolani, Punahou, Hawaii Baptist Academy and Hawaii Charter School ) and University of Hawaii will participate in this civic education program. EAFI hopes that Hawaii students will become more interested in civic education when they know and meet students from other countries that are interested in civic studies.  

Importance of the program

This weeklong civic education program enables local Hawaii students to learn civic duties in an interactive manner with Chinese students, while discussing the ideas freedom, democracy, rule of law, dignity and responsibility and how or if they exist in other places around the world. The project demonstrates the tremendous interest and demand for civic education particularly among Chinese students. Many Chinese students will meet part of the costs for value added education (mostly transportation and living arrangement). The camp targets taking only 50 students and five teachers from China with a matching number for Hawaii students.  

Projects such as this provide opportunities for those who want to uphold individual responsibility as a citizen and human dignity. EAFI seeks to improve public understanding of the democratic values, market forces, civil society, and rule of law. In this, the Chinese students and the local Hawaii students will become the natural allies of pro-democratic advocates.  

Speakers and Topics of Discussion:

Dr. Kate Zhou, Political Science Department, University of Hawaii- Civil Society Building

• Paul Hooper, American studies, University of Hawaii - American Election s
• Galen Fax, Hawaii Representative- Elections in Hawaii
• Brain Nakamura, Chair of Labor Relations- Hawaii State Rule of Law
• Chuck Bahmueller, Director of China Program- Center for Civic Education- Elements of Democracy
• Ken Schoolland, Professor of Economics, Hawaii Pacific University-Limited Government and Free market
• Charles D'jou, City Councilman- American Democratic Values
• Guohua Liu, Center for Civic Education-Rural Elections in China  

Cultural Exchange between Chinese and American students.
Free Pizzas for all.
For more on civic education, see http://www.civiced.org

Selection Process in China

Students who participate in our summer camps in Jishou, Baojing, Yunnan , Benxi , Beijing , and Shanghai can apply for the civic week. Successful candidates will be asked to recite and to understand the ten elements of American Democracy created by Chuck Bahmuelle.
A limited scholarships will be available.

Selection process in the United States:

Students who participate in the Civic Education program will be invited to attend summer camp in China in 2006. A limited scholarships will be available.  

To apply, please write to Mr. Yuan Xiao, Winter camp coordinator

email: xiaoyuan726@vip.sina.com

Phone: 13901101291