Conferences
2013 Conference — Civil and Minority Rights
There are seven HCAP conferences every year. Our January conference at Harvard University allows all Asian and American delegates to meet each other in Cambridge, MA for a one week program. For the March conferences, Harvard students are split into six groups to travel to HCAP’s various Asian partner schools for another week-long conference.
The theme for this year’s conferences is: “Civil and Minority Rights”
January Conference
Sunday, January 18 – Sunday, January 27, 2013
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
March/Spring Break Conferences
Saturday, March 16 – Sunday, March 14, 2013
Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University’s conference will include a visit to Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand as well as a night in an authentic traditional Thai styled wooden home. Other activities will grant insights to the ancient Thai way of life, from shopping in the floating market to riding on an elephant’s back. The group will aso have an opportunity to watch the grand cultural performance of‘Siam Niramit’ a grand-scale traditional performance depicting Thailand’s historical andspiritual heritage. You will also visit the famous Grand Palace to see the art of a Thaitemple, and spend an evening on a dinner cruise down the scenic Chao Praya River, whichis the main river in the center part of Thailand.
Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong’s itinerary includes visits to the Giant Buddha, Victoria Peak, the Hong Kong Museum of History, Ocean Park, the Promenade, Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Ngong Ping Village, and much more. You will savor traditional Chinese cuisine, experience local student life and culture, and take time to explore the city of Hong Kong and its neighboring territories.
Mumbai: St. Xavier’s College
St. Xavier’s conference will introduce delegates to everyday life and culture in India through conversational Hindi classes, yoga classes, and many other daily activities. While the majority of the conference will take place in Mumbai, delegates will have the chance to go sightseeing and shopping in Colaba, to visit islands in the Mumbai Harbor, to explore the Elephanta Caves, and to visit a local elementary school for underprivileged children. In Mumbai, students will visit a variety of museums and cultural sites, such as the Chhathrapathi Shivaji Museum and the National Center for the Performing Arts. Indian and Harvard delegates will work together to produce a cultural showcase and at the end of the week Harvard delegates will experience Indian culture firsthand during a home stay.
Istanbul: Bosphorus University
During the conference, delegates will be introduced to the Turkish language in conversational Turkish classes and will experience authentic culture with traditional Turkish cuisine and dance. Historical sites will include a variety of Ottoman Empire museums, Sultanahmet Square, Pierre Loti, Taksin Square, the Grand Bazaar, and the Dolmabahçe and Topkapı Palaces. Delegates will have the chance to visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the historical highlights of the trip, followed by a boat party on the Bospohorus River.
Korea: Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University’s conference includes a visit to the Blue House and the National Assembly, a B-Boy Show, a Banana Boat ride, a group hiking expedition on Bukhan Mountain, and much more. Delegates will have the opportunity to enjoy an extensive tour of Seoul, will visit the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, and will participate in a field trip to An-dong Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Students will engage in a Taekwondo experience at at Gyeonghee Palace, witness traditional Korean tea ceremonies, and even learn Korean calligraphy (no Korean background necessary!).
Tokyo: University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo will be hosting a conference this spring that will take delegates sightseeing throughout a variety of districts in the Tokyo area such as Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to travel to Hiroshima to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, to walk in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and to visit Miyajima. Afterward, students will travel to Kyoto to enjoy Japanese culture through eating traditional cuisine, wearing Yukata, kimono-like pajamas, bathing in Onsen, a relaxing Japanese hot spring, and much more.
Jiangyin, China: HCAP Service Trip
The HCAP Service Trip gives a small group of Harvard students the opportunity to travel to Jiangyin, China to interact with local elementary and secondary school children. Throughout this weeklong experience, delegates teach English classes, lead extracurricular activities and serve as a mentor to the local school children. HCAP staff members are also given the opportunity to explore the historic landmarks and cultural sites of Shanghai. HCAP offers financial assistance for the Service Trip to qualifying staff members.
For more information, visit our Jiangyin page.