Yang Mei

yangmei_szdaily@163.com

THE Futian District Government launched a new package of international volunteer service projects in Xiangmi Park on Saturday, marking a significant step toward strengthening its volunteering infrastructure ahead of the APEC meeting scheduled to be held in Shenzhen this November.

The launch, which coincided with China’s annual Learn from Lei Feng month — a tradition honoring the spirit of selfless service embodied by the beloved soldier-hero born in 1940 — drew volunteers, international students, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

The new initiatives, collectively branded as “Starry Futian,” encompass four programs: the APEC Futian Youth Ambassador, the “Link+” cross-cultural communication program, “Easy Futian” International Friendly Information Service, and “Hi-Tech” Youth Sci-tech Innovation Exploration. Among the most talked-about features is the “Easy Futian” service kit which includes a multilingual convenience guide, a handbook designed for the youth, and a smart volunteer wristband.

The event also welcomed new members to the Futian International Volunteer Advisory Committee. One of the newly appointed members is Ffion Rose Maria Clift from the U.K., a primary school teacher who arrived in Futian eight months ago.

Clift said Futian’s multilingual infrastructure impresses her. “The English level in Futian is amazing — so many bilingual signs on the Metro, transportation, maps for giving directions. As long as we continue to do that, everyone is going to be able to thrive here no matter what language they speak.”

When APEC arrives in November, she sees the committee’s role as vital. “It’s always often behind the scenes,” she said. “The volunteers are here to support everyone, help run everything smoothly, and welcome all the visitors.”

Bruno Amorim Ribeiro, a 24-year-old Brazilian student at the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, is a committed volunteer.

Back in Brazil, Ribeiro regularly helped out at university seminars and congress events. He sees the same potential here, particularly with his language skills. “I speak Portuguese and Spanish besides English,” he noted.

Wearing the iconic red volunteer vest, Alena Shish, an American entrepreneur who has been living in or visiting Futian on and off for over a decade, and is now working in Futian, came to the event buzzing with enthusiasm — and left more inspired than she had expected. “I did not realize how many volunteer organizations there are just in Futian,” she said, scanning the roughly 30 stalls that filled the fairground, showcasing the achievements of the district’s volunteer teams, projects, and stations. “It’s amazing to see so many people helping out just out of the goodness of their own heart.”

Shish has already begun contributing in her own way, meeting with Futian’s International Friendship Exchange Center to share insights on the practical challenges foreigners face when moving to Shenzhen.  With APEC on the horizon, she is eager to do more. “I would love to get more involved in introducing Shenzhen to visitors. I also speak Chinese, so I think it’d be fun to do some translation.”

One of the day’s most memorable moments came during the multilingual speech “Amazing Futian Awaits You,” which expats and local residents addressed the crowd in Chinese, English, Russian, French, and Spanish, drawing rounds of applause with their energy.