The Heart Touch Program is an initiative started by University of Alabama student Fan Yang, a native of China. Yang is a PhD student in social work at UA, who noticed a cultural disconnect between international students and the American elementary students they were teaching. She started Heart Touch, a Chinese and Japanese cultural enrichment project with after-school programs at Tuscaloosa City and County schools. Yang, along with other international students at UA, visit local schools to teach Chinese and Japanese culture through hands-on activities, field trips and pen-pal programs. The program has a dual-purpose mission of connecting American students with Chinese and Japanese culture and connecting international students with American culture.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.