Going Global in D.C.

Talk about a meaningful spring break. Business students Yiwen Yu, Yi Yang, Tian Xie, Qian Ye, and Charlie Campbell were selected to participate in the fifth annual Clinton Global Initiative University, a forum for students from around the world to tackle global challenges. The undergrads spent three whirlwind days in Washington, D.C., attending workshops; networking with other socially committed students; hearing from such luminaries as Madeleine Albright, Twitter cofounder Biz Stone, and comedian Jon Stewart; and representing the work of their student group, the Chinese Philanthropic Leadership Association (CPLA). Though founded only recently--in January 2011--the group has already completed one high-impact project, with another in the works. Last summer, volunteers collected used textbooks and supplies from Chinese cities and delivered them to schools in China's underserved rural areas. This summer, participants will distribute a simple, low-tech device that increases access to safe drinking water while cutting down on fuel use. Find out more about the CPLA on their Facebook page and watch famous Hong Kong movie star and film director (and Duck!) Daniel Wu endorse their work in this video.