Wei Jie/Tian Yijia

claudiamente@hotmail.com

MORE than 30 local and expat children gathered at the Shekou Subdistrict Public Service Center for a day of cultural immersion during the inaugural session of the “HELLO APEC” Shekou Summer Camp that opened Monday.

Co-organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), the camp aims to foster cross-cultural connections among local and expat youth in one of Shenzhen’s most diverse international communities.

The event began with a vibrant exploration of Filipino folk music led by musician Mark Buenviaje. Participants were introduced to various percussion instruments and traditional rhythms that are central to Filipino daily life.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to Chinese intangible cultural heritage with a workshop on lacquer fan crafting. Guided by Master Guo Meng, the children learned the 2,000-year-old Chu-style “floating lacquer” technique. By dripping mineral pigments into water and carefully submerging bamboo fans, each child created a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

“I never knew Chinese fans carried such beautiful artistry,” remarked one young participant. Ana Paula Gonzalez Patton from Mexico also highlighted her joy in making a personalized lacquer fan. “Look, this is the fan I made, and I have written my name on it,”said the 7-year-old.

The summer camp is structured into two sessions, featuring instructors from eight APEC member economies. Over the coming two weeks, the program will offer a diverse curriculum including Russian dance, American interactive games, Korean taekwondo, Mexican culture, Australian cuisine, and New Zealand volunteerism.

Young participants expressed high enthusiasm for the program. Antonina Buenviaje from Russia, 11, enjoyed the opportunity to engage in new crafts alongside her father’s music session. By bridging cultures through music, art, and sport, these young “ambassadors” are building a foundation of friendship and mutual understanding.