History of Oasis Training Center

• September 2001 – A team of people from Oklahoma, led by Diane Williamson, co-founder of Oasis, traveled to Pingliang for a short-term trip and the first seeds of interest were planted.

• January 2002 – The idea of establishing a permanent long-term English school in the city began to sprout from those first seeds planted. The need for a higher education facility in Pingliang motivated the birth of what might someday become a university.

• Spring 2002 – With the support of groups in America, three trips were made to further investigate setting up a training center. During that spring, the investigating team made contact with the Governor of the Gansu Province.

• September 2002 – Oasis Training Center began with 20 students. The headmaster of Pingliang Vocational Middle School arranged for the school to operate under the covering of his school and he provided one floor on their school campus for Oasis to use. A contact with an organization in Oklahoma provided a container full of books to begin the library and a $20,000 donation from an Oklahoman businessman provided 20 computers for the training center. The teaching staff began with two couples and one single woman.

 

 

• July 2004 – Oasis held its first Summer Program, inviting people from the city of Pingliang, from age 5 to adult, to participate.

• September 2004 – Dennis and Heather Choate moved to China as permanent staff.

• June 2007 – The staff of Oasis averaged 8-10 members and each of the two grades averaged 30 students.

• November 2007 – Oasis secured an additional facility in close proximity to the school building for the purpose of extended classroom space, as well as student and community activities.

• January 2009 – Oasis hosted its first Pingliang Connection, bringing visiting Americans to the city the school is located in for a week-long intensive language program and cultural connection for the Grade 1 students.