Harvard College in Asia Program

Vital Stats

Namrata A

Cambridge, MA

people helped100
People Doing It100

The Problem

HCAP was established as a response to the absence of a comprehensive program at Harvard covering Asia’s true geographic breadth and with a wide scope of approaches to understanding international affairs. HCAP is a unique program that stands on two exchange platforms and three pillars that build bridges between the Harvard and Asia, and, more broadly, between the U.S. and Asia. HCAP offers seven conferences each year that blend academic, cultural, and social events. As a result, Harvard and Asian delegates taken away powerful, moving, and life-changing experiences from their involvement with HCAP. Asia. This year's conference is based around Civil and Minority Rights and aims to address the profound social issues of our generation, issues whose impact transcends geographical borders. From Dalit rights in India to labor laws in Japan, we will examine ethnic, religious, gender, and class conflicts that are unique to certain regions of the world but that are also indicative of the greater struggle of underrepresented populations across the globe.We are looking to bring together delegates from all over Asia here at Harvard for profound academic, cultural, and social exchange.

Plan of Action

The annual HCAP Harvard Conference is held each Winter at Harvard and constitutes the first of two exchange platforms. Through keynotes, TED talks, and targeted discussions, we will engage students in critical and though-provoking dialogues on the complex intergroup relationships and cultural norms that drive these conflicts and on possible solutions to these conflicts. By the end of the conference, we hope that students will walk away not only with a greater awareness of the daily struggles and prejudice faced by many people around the world, but also with the motivation and inspiration to challenge this status quo. Among the 15 hours of scheduled content each day, the HCAP 2013 Harvard Conference will also feature skills training intensives, performances, shows, and immersion into the culture and sights of Harvard and the greater Boston Area. Furthermore, for the second time in its history, the Conference will host a cross-national, collaborative case competition throughout the week. Open to all 130 conference participants, the competition will focus on finding solutions to social challenges related to Civil and Minority Rights.

For More Info

Harvard College in Asia Program Website - http://www.harvardcollegeinasia.org/

Human Rights