June 5, 2005 -- Forging bonds between the West and the East was the lifelong passion of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author and humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck. In an effort to continue
this legacy, Pearl S. Buck International sent 18 people to China last school year as Teacher Ambassadors. Now, as plans are being made for the next school year, new recruits are needed to
teach oral English to children in Zhenjiang who are eager to learn.
Teacher Ambassadors follow in the footsteps of Pearl Buck who lived and taught in Zhenjiang for 18 years. Although born in the U.S. Miss Buck spent the first 40 years of her life in China
before settling into her Bucks County Pennsylvania estate. On that estate today, Pearl S. Buck International continues to develop cultural and educational exchanges with the
government-operated Zhenjiang Pearl S. Buck Research Center in the Jiangsu Province of China.
Last year was the first year of this Teacher Ambassador Program. The ambassadors were the first-ever native English-speaking teachers in Zhenjiang. They came from all over the U.S. and
ranged in ages from 21 to over 60 years. In addition to oral English, they also taught reading comprehension in grades one through twelve.
Jaleh Zandieh of Harrisburg, PA was one of the first teacher ambassadors. She wrote, "One of the reasons I wanted to be a part of this program was how Pearl Buck touched the lives of so
many children in need. I truly respect the work that she did to assist children without families get the support and resources that every child deserves to have."
As the spring semester draws to a close, new teacher ambassadors are needed for the next two semesters. Who is eligible to become a Teacher Ambassador in China
Just about anyone who is a native English speaker with any four-year college or university degree. Knowledge of the Chinese language is not a requirement. However, a sense of adventure
and a deep desire to learn another culture firsthand is necessary.
In Zhenjiang, the semesters run from September through January and February through July. Compensation is provided as accommodations, airfare, health insurance and a small monthly
stipend. For more information on the program and its eligibility requirements, please contact Jill Dixon of Pearl S. Buck International at 800-220-2825 ext. 119 or e-mail protected from
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Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI) is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization headquartered in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to promote the legacy and dreams of the
founder, Pearl S. Buck. These include a commitment to improving the quality of life and to expanding opportunities for children; and promotion of the values and attributes of other
cultures, the injustice of prejudice, and the need for humanitarianism throughout the world. This mission is common to the three distinct functions of the organization: The Welcome House*
Adoption Program, the preservation and educational interpretation of the National Historic site, and the International Programs designed to aid children of the world most in need. For
more information please visit www.pearl-s-buck.org.
Release Contact: Vince Green, Marketing Manager,
215-249-0100 ext. 134 (fax 9657)
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