The Sichuan YLP directly addressed one of the biggest challenges facing China – its rapidly aging population. During the Sichuan YLP, participants had the unique opportunity to work with China’s leading elderly welfare association, Hetong Senior Citizen Welfare Association, to develop a business plan for the association’s new spin-off entity. The new entity would enable Hetong to use a commercial approach in order to rapidly expand its professional elderly home, caretaker training academy and retail products operations across China, particularly in urban centers where demand for services is high and in short supply. The plan will provide investment opportunities for potential investors who are hoping to tap into the boundless opportunities in the elderly care sector. As part of the process, YLP participants examined elderly home management models in Tianjin, Beijing and Chengdu in addition to market research to determine the direction of Hetong’s expansion plans. The group also had the opportunity to visit elderly survivors of the 2008 earthquake who are currently living in two of Hetong’s elderly homes in Sichuan province to better understand Hetong’s commitment to its community.