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Chinese Delegation Visits Chautauqua County

Representatives from the YMCA-YWCA of Chendgu, China at YMCA Camp Onyahsa in Dewittville with director Jon O’Brian.

A delegation of 11 professionals and board members from the YMCA-YWCA of Chengdu, China, visited the area this week to learn about the programs of the Jamestown YMCA and YWCA associations.

The Chengdu association has had a relationship with YMCA Camp Onyahsa since 2011, and seeks to broaden it with the Jamestown locality. As a result of the Onyahsa partnership, the Chengdu Y also hosts students from Jamestown Community College for semester-long internships.

The delegation was led by Wang Banqui, President of the Chengdu Association and Isabela Hua, its CEO. Chengdu is a city of over 10 million inhabitants and is the provincial capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan.

Among several universities, it hosts the national Panda Conservation site. The YMCA-YWCA performs various social services in the region, including the operation of an orphanage. Want praised assembled Jamestown YMCA representatives for Jamestown’s clear air, tidy lawns and friendly atmosphere.

While in the community, the delegation visited all branches of the YMCA, including the summer recreation program at C.C. Ring School. They also met with executives from the YWCA to establish a connection before spending a full day at Camp Onyahsa with the campers. In addition to professional meetings, the group enjoyed tours of downtown Jamestown, the National Comedy Center, Chautauqua Institution, the Westfield Market and the Dunkirk Pier in addition to dining at area establishments.

According to Song Chenzong, department director for the Chengdu Y, representatives from Chengdu plan to visit Jamestown and the county again next year, and have invited members of the Camp Onyahsa staff to Chengdu for extended work experiences with their association.

Jon O’Brian, camp director, has been to Chengdu three times, and notes that the Chengdu Y was established in 1910 by American representatives Robert and Grace Service. Today the YMCA is a worldwide organization that serves over 58 million people in 119 nations.

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