Starbucks helps nurture youth leadership in China
- By Chen Boyuan
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, November 20, 2015
|
|
|
A Starbucks barista makes coffee at the team-up ceremony between the coffee company and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation on Wednesday. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn] |
Starbucks recently enrolled 500 students from 10 universities across China in its "Starbucks Youth Leadership Project," a one-year-long training camp meant to improve young people's management skills, perseverance, and charisma, among other traits commonly found in leaders.
This is the second year for Starbucks to hold the Youth Leadership Project. As an innovation in the training, the students will be required to conduct field research across the country, with the help of local charity organizations.
Through their findings and analysis, they will bring their own understanding of youth leadership to the classroom, where trainers, including business school professors and charity group partners, will brief them on communication and coordination capabilities, business wisdom and social responsibility.
Starbucks hopes the "research and learning" training mode will help university students pay closer attention to social issues, and thus transform them "from bystanders to participants," said Cui Fuqiu, vice president of Starbucks China, in Beijing on Nov. 18, at the project's launch ceremony.
As the project's co-initiator, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), named after the late wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, expressed hope that Starbucks would continue to act as a bridge between Chinese students and the society through such programs, helping Chinese young people gain a better perception of the world.
"We are delighted to see that the 500 students in last year's training camp have visited more than 200 communities, serving more than 20,000 people nationwide. Through the help of Starbucks, they've learnt how to communicate with communities, sponsors and government agencies," said Tang Jiuhng, council member of CSCLF.
Among the beneficiaries is Ma Weiliang, a senior student from Yunnan Agricultural University, who participated last year. He recalled the whole training camp as "an opportunity to broaden my horizons and explore my potential."
The Starbucks Youth Leadership Project is planned for three batches of students totaling 1,500 young people. The company provides funding of US$1.5 million and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is responsible for carrying out the project.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)