OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS 2023
OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS 2023
BE A STUDENT CONSULTANT
OUR FALL AND WINTER 2021 PROGRAMS
OUR FALL AND WINTER 2021 PROGRAMS
BE A STUDENT CONSULTANT
FIELD CONSULTING PROGRAMS
Our programs give high school students an opportunity to make real impact. In our short-term consulting engagements, student consultants work under the guidance of professional mentors to solve a pressing challenge facing our client. Through expert guidance, real world experience, and rigorous academic content, students are able to create a sustainable and practical solution for our local partners. Our programs are based in rural China and Southeast Asia, giving students first-hand understanding of the complex issues we work with our partners to solve. Our student consultants are equipped with relevant tools and knowledge to create solutions for global problems such as water safety, poverty, and public health.
For a full program list, please request a program brochure:
FIELD
CONSULTING PROGRAMS
Our programs give high-school students an opportunity to make real impact. In our short-term consulting engagements, student consultants work under the guidance of professional mentors to solve a pressing challenge facing our client. Through expert guidance, real world experience, and rigorous academic content, students are able to create a sustainable and practical solution for our local partners. Our programs are based in rural China and Southeast Asia, giving students first-hand understanding of the complex issues we work with our partners to solve. Our student consultants are equipped with relevant tools and knowledge to create solutions for global problems such as water safety, poverty, and public health.
For a full program list, please request a program brochure.
BUSINESS PROGRAMS
LOCATION
Shanghai, China
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/1 - 7/10
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
12: Responsible consumption and production
BIG QUESTION
How can communities tackle the impact of fashion clothing production to the environment in a sustainable way?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Fashion & Design Management; Business
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Recycling and up-cycling have created a new stream of modern fashion nowadays - Sustainable fashion. Through this program, students will get hands-on experience in reusing materials and experiment with different elements of circular economy. Unlike fast fashion, which concentrates on creation of garments from low quality or unsustainable materials with a short life span in pursuit of higher revenue, sustainable fashion is reversing the supply chain to make the lifecycle of clothes longer; thus, reducing the waste and harm from production.
This summer, our Keru research team will find ways to create a fashionable wardrobe and raise awareness about sustainability at the same time by creating sustainably designed clothing. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their hand-made garments during a fashion showcase at the end of the program.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
COLLABORATION WITH KERU
Keru began working with Shanghai Sunrise in Summer 2019. In these programs, Keru students worked to improve Shanghai Sunrise’s data management, created marketing materials, and implemented new marketing strategies.
LOCATION
Shanghai, China
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/14-7/23
Round 2: 7/25-8/3
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health and Well-Being
10: Reduced Inequalities
BIG QUESTION
How to raise public awareness of the difficulties and challenges faced by autism families?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Business; Philanthropy
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also require different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms. But those with ASD, life can be very challenging for them.
A greater number of children identified with ASD has led to a growing interest in the transition to adolescence and adulthood. For most young people, including those with ASD, adolescence and young adulthood are filled with new challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities. However, research suggests fewer young people with ASD have the same opportunities as their peers without ASD, such as employment, education, self-care ability and social activities. In addition, individuals with ASD may experience changes in their ASD symptoms, behaviors, and co-occurring health conditions during adolescence and young adulthood. These changes can affect their ability to function and participate in the community.
This time, Keru will lead the students to work closely with a Shanghai autism center to address the difficulties and challenges that the families face and they will organize a fundraiser to help raise public awareness.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
COLLABORATION WITH KERU
Shanghai Minhang District Autism Volunteer Association (Xingle Home) was established in January 2015. It is an organization for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders registered under the supervision of Minhang District Civil Affairs Bureau. Xingle's vision is to become a leading organization and resource sharing platform serving autism groups in Shanghai. The mission of Xingle is to enhance the self-help and mutual support ability of families with autism spectrum disorder. The original intention of Xingle was to unite teens and youth autistic families and provide a platform for everyone to share experience and bear burden.
The common problems faced by teens and youth autistic families are that the children have no schooling, nowhere to find a job, and are kept at home for a long time, with degraded abilities and emotional instability. Through the establishment of the Xinglefang public welfare base, Xingle provides public welfare day care services for the teens and youth autistic group, such as occupational training and life skills training.
LOCATION
云南燕麦地村 Yanmaidi, Yunnan
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/15 - 7/24
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
1: No Poverty
8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
BIG QUESTION
What are the marketing strategies (marketing brochure focus) for Yunnan agricultural product honey?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Business; Marketing Strategies; Social Media
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Yanmaidi Village is located one and a half hours' drive northwest of Kunming City, Yunnan Province, with an altitude of 1,800 meters. It is a village inhabited by ethnic minorities, mostly Lisu people. There are hundreds of farmers living here, most of whom grow crops such as potatoes and corn. The scenery here is beautiful, surrounded by mountains, and kind and simple people have thrived here for generations. With the reform and development of China’s rural area,, the village has updated the facilities such as water and electricity. At the end of 2009, the per capita annual income was less than 2,600 yuan, and there is still room for development. In recent years, Yanmaidi Village has started the agricultural product industry of organic honey, hoping to help drive its economic development.
This time, Keru will lead the students to Yanmaidi Village to experience the culture and customs of ethnic minorities, help them investigate the market prospects of honey agricultural products, and help the development of their agricultural products business by designing and making marketing brochures.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
COLLABORATION WITH KERU
The Keru Research Team functions as a data-driven think tank for solutions and insights to development issues. Based on partnerships with governments,
non-profits, social enterprises and other community actors, our research team is active in rural China and Southeast Asia and focuses on a wide range of topics related to the UN sustainable development goals. Their outputs include research papers, concept notes, innovative solution proposals, and white papers.
non-profits, social enterprises and other community actors, our research team is active in rural China and Southeast Asia and focuses on a wide range of topics related to the UN sustainable development goals. Their outputs include research papers, concept notes, innovative solution proposals, and white papers.
STEM PROGRAMS
LOCATION
云南省楚雄 Chuxiong, Yunnan
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/15 - 7/24
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health & Well-Being
BIG QUESTION
How can we improve the health education and awareness of people in rural areas?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Public Health; Education
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Public health seems to be particularly important today after the epidemic, especially children, women and the elderly in rural areas need particular support and care. In this Keru event, we will lead students and experts to Yunnan to conduct research on local public health, and design and implement public health awareness raising campaigns.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
Wuding County Zhengxin Social Work Service Center was established in March 2015 and is the first private social work organization in Wuding County. It was founded by Li Jun, a senior public welfare person, who returned to his hometown to start a business, and developed social work and education services in his hometown.
As a newly established institution based in the local area with a focus on education and children's development in the hometown, as well as crisis and disaster prevention intervention, the organization is dedicated to the construction of a safe growth environment for children in their hometown and the promotion of the development of rural social work services.
LOCATION
福建武平 Wuping, Fujian
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/1 - 7/10
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health & Well-Being
BIG QUESTION
What kind of micro-organisms exist in local water, soil and food; how to educate the local community regarding this area?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Environmental Science; Chemistry; Public Health
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
In nature, there are microorganisms all over the world and many have different properties. These natural organisms contain enzymes that can be industrialized and used for food and beverages to benefit human beings’ health. Because of this, it is important to explore different environments to collect more data on these naturally occurring enzymes. Such information can lead to more education on water microorganisms in the rural community, especially in order to change public health practices related to fermented foods to ensure food safety.
In this program, under the expert’s guidance from Chinese Academy of Science Guangzhou Institute of Advanced Technology, students will research and study the microorganism in the rural area and provide suggestions for the local communities in terms of how to better live with the microorganisms.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
Founded in 2014, Siyuan is a social enterprise that provides water purification solutions to consumers and disadvantaged areas. For a long time, Siyuan has cooperated with enterprises, NGOs and other organizations to try to solve the problem of drinking water safety for children in mountainous areas through water quality testing, ques-tionnaire surveys, water purification classes, water purification equipment installation and water cup gifts.
LOCATION
Shanghai, China
PROGRAM DATES
7/14 - 7/23
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health & Well-Being
10: Reduced Inequalities
BIG QUESTION
How to use physical computing and rapid prototyping to create physical activities for people who are blind or have low vision (BLV)?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Design Thinking, Electronics, Coding, 3D Design, Gamification
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Exercise and sports are important for a person’s development. Research shows that sports are not only for physical development, but also improve self-esteem, team-work, and social inclusion. However, most people who are blind or have low vision (BLV) are excluded from these activities. There are over 17 million people who are blind or have low vision in China and that number continues to grow. Nearly 1 person every minute will permanently experience vision loss.
In this Inclusive Design Lab, we will develop real-world skills in product design, physical computing, and rapid prototyping to create physical activities and games that include the BLV community and help us bridge the disability divide.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
Shanghai Zhijun Public Interest Law Institute is a public welfare organization established by Dr. Fu Zhijun in 2015. It is mainly engaged in disability law and public policy research and consulting services; disability and social development research and services and other public welfare research and services.
In addition to serving as the director of the Shanghai Zhijun Public Interest Law Institute, Dr. Fu Zhijun is also the part-time vice chairman of the Shanghai Pudong Disabled Persons Federation and a member of the Rights Protection Committee of the China Disabled Persons Federation Research Association.
LOCATION
云南省迪庆藏族自治州维西县 塔城镇 - Tacheng Town, Weixi County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/15-7/24
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
Round 2: 7/26 - 8/4
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
13: Climate Action
15: Life on Land
BIG QUESTION
How can we contribute to the improvement of Yunnan Snub-nosed monkey preservation?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Biology; Environmental Science
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey (“snubbies” for short) is an extremely rare primate found only in Tibet and Southwest China. There are estimates that only about 20 isolated groups consisting of approximately 4,000 individual monkeys in total remain. These animals are endangered primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Each year, deforestation is increasingly harming this tree-dwelling species, and they risk losing their forest home and food sources to agricultural expansion. Other activities, such as intensive hunting and trapping, are also a threat to their survival. Given that these monkeys only live within areas of high altitude and low temperatures, even small changes to their habitats either by humans or through the effects of climate change are detrimental. Fortunately, the needs of this endangered species have not gone unnoticed, and government institutions as well as biologists have gathered to spread awareness about the conservation of biodiversity in Yunnan, with particular attention to the Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys.
This summer, we will bring a Keru Team to investigate the effects of climate change and human activities on the Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, as well as observe their current situation within their natural habitat. Through this program, students will utilize scientific research and species observation methodologies to produce a report on snub-nosed monkeys conservation. At the end of the program, students will develop and present to the stakeholders a plan of improvements to the current snub-nosed monkey habitat preservation measures.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
The Keru Research Team functions as a data-driven think tank for solutions and insights to development issues. Based on partnerships with governments, non-profits, social enterprises and other community actors, our research team is active in rural China and Southeast Asia and focuses on a wide range of topics related to the UN sustainable development goals. Their outputs include research papers, concept notes, innovative solution proposals, and white papers.
HUMANITIES PROGRAMS
LOCATION
陕西省富县 Fuxian, Shaanxi Province
PROGRAM DATES
7/15- 7/24
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
BIG QUESTION
How can we raise awareness and draw attention to the importance of cultural heritage preservation?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Archeology; Sociology/Anthropology/ Cultural Heritage Preservation
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
In ancient times, local people created caves in remote mountains along the Hexi Corridor as shrines filled with sculptures, paintings and other sacred art to practice their religion. These caves were developed as sites for Buddhist and Daoist pilgrimage. The elegant statues and sumptuous mural paintings demonstrate the high level of art in ancient China. But not all the grottoes are well researched and studied, or even recorded. Many of these valuable heritage sites are at risk from natural and human destruction.
This summer, Keru students will have the unique opportunity to travel to Shaanxi Province to conduct sociological and historical research alongside Dr. Neil Schmid in a selection of some of these ancient grottoes. Dr. Schmid is the Research Professor at the Dunhuang Academy and is one of the world’s leading authorities on medieval Buddhism’s visual culture. He studied Chinese and Linguistics at Georgetown University, and Buddhist and Dunhuang Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, l’École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris, and the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his PhD. With the support and guidance from Dr. Schmid, Keru students will conduct basic site survey research and record key information points with the goal to write factual encyclopedic articles to be submitted on the Wikipedia public platform. Students’ published work will help to enable researchers and other culture preservationists the unique opportunity to access new information in this remote region. A secondary objective will be for the team to conduct face-to-face interviews with local people to provide a foundation for oral histories within these site areas. Participation on this project will have a significant impact in the field of cultural preservation data mapping.
Our Keru Research Team consisting of professionals, academics and students will work collaboratively to travel to unrecorded or unfamiliar archeological sites of cultural and of religious significance.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
The Keru Research Team functions as a data-driven think tank for solutions and insights to development issues. Based on partnerships with governments, non-profits, social enterprises and other community actors, our research team is active in rural China and Southeast Asia and focuses on a wide range of topics related to the UN sustainable development goals. Our outputs include research papers, concept notes, innovative solution proposals, and white papers.
LOCATION
广东省清远市黄花镇 - Huanghua Town, Qingyuan, Guangdong
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/1-7/10
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health and Well-Being
4: Quality Education
BIG QUESTION
How can we promote sports culture among the underprivileged children?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Physical Education
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Do you want to make a positive and lasting impact on people through ultimate frisbee? As well as approaching the cutting-edge issues of society and having a social impact in sports? In China, no matter in the cities or rural areas, there are still underprivileged children, and due to the lack of resources, they have limited access to quality physical education and team activities, which keeps them from developing essential life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, adaptability, discipline, and comradery.
This time, we will bring Keru teams to travel to some of these communities where students and professionals will work collaboratively to create sports education curricula for the local children. Under the guidance of Keru mentors, students will create a physical education curriculum that is suitable for the local children. During the program, students will have opportunities to interact with local children, teach trendy sports such as ultimate frisbee, and participate in friendly competitions.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partners
Cliff Haus is an international outdoor community center. We are a social enterprise. At Cliff Haus, we explore an alternative outdoor lifestyle. Organic/Minimalist/Adventurous/Awareness/Giving are our core values. Providing a variety of activities based on these values. We thrive to bring deep connections between people to nature, people to people, and people to self. Our end goal is to create sustainable outdoor community centers in rural areas; to allow the city folks to have open eye experiences to explore pure nature; to open windows and opportunities for the local left behind kids to see the world. Wild Nature, Wild Soul.
The Keru Research Team functions as a data-driven think tank for solutions and insights to development issues. Based on partnerships with governments, non-profits, social enterprises and other community actors, our research team is active in rural China and Southeast Asia and focuses on a wide range of topics related to the UN sustainable development goals. Their outputs include research papers, concept notes, innovative solution proposals, and white papers.
LOCATION
广东肇庆 Zhaoqing, Guangdong
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/16-7/25
Round 2: 7/27 - 8/5
Round 2: 7/27 - 8/5
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
3: Good Health and Well-Being
4: Quality Education
BIG QUESTION
How to use music, art and sports to improve the resilience of left-behind children?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Psychology; Education
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Shining Star is a local NGO that helps provide quality mental health and enrichment services to rural students. Lack of access to quality education resources and an absence of parental involvement result in lower levels of social and emotional learning development. This issue was identified by the Stanford Rural Education and Action Program (REAP) as a large challenge to social stability in China.
This summer, students will organize a mental health workshop, join a Resilience Camp with local children, develop lesson plans and deliver resilience training to help Shining Star improve their curriculum.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partners
Shining Star is a local NGO registered in the Civil Affairs Bureau of Panyu District, Guangzhou with the mission of providing quality mental health and enrichment services to rural students. In order to give back to society, Shining Star is driven by a vision to see students grow up to be healthy and happy, and to convey love and hope.
LOCATION
四川省甘孜藏族自治州丹巴县中路镇 - Zhonglu Township, Danba County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/1-7/10
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
Round 2: 7/12 - 7/21
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
BIG QUESTION
How can storytelling be utilized as a means for cultural preservation?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Sociology; Cultural Studies; Documentary & Filmmaking; Marketing & Media
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Zhonglu Township is a small Tibetan community located in Danba’s mountains, part of the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a community known as “A Thousand Stone Castle Kingdom” that until recently had limited contact with the outside world. The expanse of this tourism hasn’t left Zhonglu untouched; in fact, Zhonglu has seen a large growth in tourists over the past 5-10 years. On one hand, local people are excited by the prospect of new wealth and tourism as an additional source of income. But on the other hand, this increase in tourism has left traditional cultural activities by the wayside. For example, local villagers knocked down a 500-years old watchtower in order to use the bricks to build a standardized guesthouse.
Our local partner, the Yunhe Centre, aims to reduce the impact of unsustainable development and find innovative ways to preserve the local culture. In the past year, Keru has brought out multiple teams to address the major issues of unfettered tourism and find creative solutions to better help preserve the local culture and traditions of the Tibetan people in Zhonglu.
This summer, students will have the opportunity to experience this unique Tibetan Culture. They will utilize research, photography, filmography and marketing skills to reveal hidden culture and traditions. Students will create a mini-video documentary to highlight ecotourism features in Zhonglu. All these resources will be potentially used as a social media resource showcasing initiative and further contribute by raising awareness to support the campaign of Yunhe Centre.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partners
Yunhe is a center for nature-based learning and community development created by Dragon Expeditions in May 2015 in response to the growing need to support vulnerable communities who are currently impacted by depopulation and at risk of overdevelopment. Their focus is achieving a balance between nature and modernity to create a self-reliant community in Zhonglu Village by providing a framework in which knowledge is shared, local resources are more efficiently and effectively used, and tourism is operated responsibly.
LOCATION
Beijing, China
PROGRAM DATES
Round 1: 7/17 - 7/26
Round 2: 7/28 - 8/6
Round 2: 7/28 - 8/6
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
BIG QUESTION
How to use documentaries as a way of storytelling to record and preserve culture?
ACADEMIC AREAS
Documentary Filming; Cultural Relics Repair
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The restoration of cultural relics includes more than 10 categories such as wood, bronze, ceramics, paper, textiles, and gemstone inlays. Compared with medicine, the discipline of cultural relics protection and restoration has many similarities. At the same time, the protection and restoration of cultural relics has a strong scientific nature, and it is also a science formed by the interpenetration of multiple disciplines, including the three major fields of humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and engineering technology.
TUITION INCLUDES
Tuition fee includes local transportation, meals, lodging, activity fee and mentor payment
Local Partner
WhitePeak is a film studio in Beijing, founded by Yun, a graduate from NYU film making program and Stanford University. Yun and her partner love the elements of unique Chinese culture and the beautiful landscape and they would like to express the zeal and passion through the lens to let more people know and fall in love with China.
PARTNER COLLABORATIONS
PARTNER COLLABORATIONS
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS
Sign up by scanning the QR code above.
Participate in a 15-minute video interview with a Keru staff member.
Wait for the Keru admission decision.
Sign up by scanning the QR code above.
Participate in a 15-minute video interview with a Keru staff member.
DOES KERU PROVIDE ANY ONLINE PROGRAM？
Yes, Keru provides online consulting programs and online workshops.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Provide your contact information and we will contact you with more information about our programs!
CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION
CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
We are in constant communication with parents to ensure the safety of their student on our trips.
SAFETY COMES
FIRST
SAFETY COMES
FIRST
FIRST
Keru is committed to keeping our students safe. Our students are never left without supervision by a trained trip leader.
EXPERIENCE, LEARN, AND BE INSPIRED
EXPERIENCE, LEARN, AND BE INSPIRED
We provide expertise and guidance from professionals and students from prestigious institutions.