Panel Discussion: “Poverty in China Today – Challenges and Solutions”

Join Wokai for a flavorful Chinese dinner and an enlightening panel discussion with leading experts on the nature of poverty in China and potential solutions to this issue.

Wokai is pleased to welcome renowned panelists:

Stevan Harrell
Professor of Anthropology, University of Washington
Topic: “Education as a means of poverty alleviation in China.”
Based on his interest in environmental sustainability and community development through education, Stevan founded Yangjuan Primary School in Sichuan Province in 2000. Stevan now heads the UW Worldwide Program, exchanging undergraduates with Sichuan University and involving many of them in ecological fieldwork and community service at Yangjuan School. In 2005, he founded the Cool Mountain Education Fund, a small NGO that gives scholarships to graduates of Yangjuan School.

Kam Wing Chan
Professor of Geography, University of Washington
Topic: “The plight of rural immigrants and solutions to better integration into society.”
Kam’s areas of focus are urban and economic geography, migration, labor markets and urban finance in China. Kam has been widely published, including The World Bank & PRC State Development Planning Commission. His current research projects include Internal Migration and the Hukou Reforms and Urbanization and Land Conversion.

Heng-Pin (Ping) Kiang
Board Member, Rural Development Institute
Topic: ”The role of secure land rights in alleviating poverty in rural China.”
An attorney and entrepreneur, Ping has been a board member of the Rural Development Institute for more than ten years and is a member of RDI’s executive committee and Chair of its Resource Committee. RDI is an international nonprofit organization working with governments of developing countries and other partners to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people. RDI has been a principal foreign advisor to China ‘s central government on rural land issues since 1987.

Wokai Seattle Chapter, Panel Moderator
Wokai is a 501(c)3 non-profit microfinance organization committed to alleviating poverty in China using a person to person web based platform. Founded in 2008, Wokai to date has raised over $170,000 in microloan capital to help over 300 impoverished individuals in rural China lift themselves out of poverty.

Cost is $25 per person. Includes dinner and a $10 credit to a Wokai borrower of your choice.

To register for this event, please visit www.wokai.org/Events.action
For questions regarding this event, please email Seattle@wokai.org