The Beijing Center (TBC) is proud to be part of the IAJU (International Association of Jesuit Universities) Peace and Reconciliation Task Force, a global network of Jesuit universities and higher education institutions committed to promoting reconciliation through various initiatives. As part of this effort, the IAJU has developed the Mapping and GeoVisor Initiative, an interactive platform that visually showcases the contributions of member institutions to the mission of Ignatian reconciliation.
We are excited to announce that TBC’s annual three-day Retreat for young adults is now featured on Google Maps through the IAJU Peace & Reconciliation GeoVisor. As the only institution from the Chinese Province represented on this global platform, TBC is honored to share our work in fostering reconciliation and personal growth among students.
Launched in 2021, TBC’s Retreat is uniquely tailored to the mainland China context, focusing on personal reconciliation through secular language and methods rooted in Ignatian principles. Chinese students who complete the Retreat are invited to continue their journey by training as Retreat leaders or engaging in service learning, further expanding the Retreat’s impact.
TBC’s retreat initiative was also recognized as a best practice in Jesuit education during the 2022 IAJU Worldwide Assembly at Boston College, underscoring its significance within the global Jesuit network.
We encourage other institutions and communities within the Province to share their own initiatives related to peace, reconciliation, and Ignatian formation. By collaborating and expanding this network, we can amplify our collective impact and strengthen this vital mission together.
For more information or to submit your own projects, please contact TBC Executive Director Simon Koo, a member of the IAJU Peace and Reconciliation Task Force working group, at s.koo@thebeijingcenter.org. You may also reach out to Alma Marie O. Salvador from Ateneo de Manila University at salvador@ateneo.edu for further collaboration and inquiries.
This past summer at The Beijing Center (TBC), students from Marquette University took TBC’s Chinese language courses for college credit. TBC’s program offers an intensive, immersive curriculum in the heart of Beijing.
This past summer in China, TBC connected students from Notre Dame School of Manhattan and Xavier High School with some of Beijing’s local elementary students. The young children were shy at first, but they eventually loved interacting with their new American friends.
Last summer, The Beijing Center (TBC) hosted Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School in China.
This past summer, The Beijing Center (TBC) accompanied Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School to tour multiple famous attractions in China, including Beijing’s Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall.