Students score trip of a lifetime

Eight of the 10 students from Coliseum College Prep Academy receive letters of acceptance to participate in Learning AFAR's China trip program, in which they'll visit five iconic cities in China this summer. Provided to China Daily

A program to give underprivileged US students a chance to see the world is bringing 10 outstanding young people to China. Yu Wei in San Francisco and Zhang Yang in New York report.

For underprivileged American students who have never left North America, traveling more than 10,000 kilometers from home may seem like a far-fetched dream. But 10 top students from Oakland, California, learned earlier this month that they will be going to China this summer, for free.

Thanks to the Learning AFAR program, sponsored by Chinatour.com and the AFAR Foundation in partnership with Global Explorers, the 10 students and two educators from Coliseum College Prep Academy will be sponsored to visit five iconic cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou - and experience firsthand China's culture and history.

A total of 35 students from grades 8 to 11 submitted five essay questions and two teacher recommendations each to apply. Applicants were also required to demonstrate financial need, academic achievement and leadership potential, as well as lack of previous travel experience (students with no travel experience were given priority) to earn a place in the program, says Amy Boyle, assistant principal at Coliseum College Prep Academy.

"None of the students had previously visited China," Boyle says. "In fact no applicants have traveled outside of North America."

"I am more than happy to have been selected to go to China," says Tania Fernandez, a 10th grader. "It is a pleasure for me because I have never traveled outside of the US. It is also a big opportunity because my mom is a single parent and she would have never been able to provide such a trip for me."

For all of the selected students, the next step is to apply for a passport and attend weekly classes to learn about China.

"They will learn some Chinese history and culture, as well as general guidelines for responsible global travel," says Boyle. "They will also participate in a full-day team building retreat and a pre-departure meeting this summer."

Learning AFAR grants international travel scholarships to underprivileged students who would otherwise not be able to explore the world.