Kobe Bryant is an international superstar. Bryant, whose popularity in Asia was furthered by his participation in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, has been working to find ways to help American youth better understand the importance of the U.S. - China relationship. To enable this, the basketball superstar’s Kobe Bryant Family Foundation has launched Mandarin language and culture programs in conjunction with After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles.

“We are continually grateful to Kobe Bryant for giving the students of After-School All-Stars this incredible cultural opportunity”, says the organization’s President and Executive Director, Ana Campos.

“I believe it is important to be well-versed with other cultures,” says Campos. “Though unfortunately, due to [our] students’ socioeconomic circumstance, many of them have not had the opportunity to venture far from their inner-city communities. Kobe Bryant has granted students the opportunity to learn about an entirely new culture, which cultivates tolerance, respect and worldliness. This knowledge of acceptance is also important in gang prevention.”

An After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles programmatic goal is to provide ten Los Angeles student scholarships for a two week educational tour in China during the summer of 2011.

Originally launched at three After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles middle schools last spring, the Mandarin programs have expanded this year and currently exist at five high schools. The programmatic objectives are language acquisition and orientation to Chinese culture. Students will also be learning the ancient martial art of Wu Shu; the most popular National sport in China. World Champion Wu Shu practitioner, Master Hu will be instructing the students.

The Mandarin programs are in line with the recent launch of the President and First Lady Michelle Obama’s “100,000 Strong Initiative”, rooted in the importance of having young people in the United States build relationships with their peers in China and creating a mutual understanding around the world.

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