Ten international youth teams began an exciting journey Sunday through HUA HUB's inaugural Youth Co-Creation Camp. The 10 teams were selected from a field of 119 groups worldwide that submitted 129 proposals after the recruitment period opened June 14.

The camp's first iteration is themed on sustainable, internationalized blocks. Over the next two months, the 50-plus participants from 11 countries and regions will focus on projects in high-quality international urban design and sustainable development.

Participants engage in an online discussion on sustainable and international development during HUA HUB's inaugural Youth Co-Creation Camp on Sunday. Photos courtesy of HUA HUB

On Sunday, the participants gathered online to discuss urban sustainable development based on five major themes: transportation hubs, urban landscapes, commercial buildings/industrial parks, cultural tourism towns, and distinctive communities.

At the end of the two-month program, their proposals and action plans will be piloted in three sustainable international blocks in Shenzhen, with the goal of exploring innovative, feasible pathways for urban sustainable development through a community-level approach.

During the opening ceremony, Zhang Wei, assistant resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) China, said the camp encourages participants to use the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a compass to immerse themselves in real communities, engage with residents, and co-create solutions with empathy. The goal, Zhang added, is to transform public spaces, low-carbon neighborhoods, and transportation hubs into cross-generational and cross-cultural gateways.

Vasu Jindal, who grew up in both India and the U.S., told Shenzhen Daily today that he has been impressed by Shenzhen’s openness and energy, which have shown him that inspiration can travel far beyond physical boundaries.

Giulia Baldi, who holds dual citizenship in Switzerland and Italy, said that this camp allows her to combine her interests in intercultural collaboration and empowerment while learning from others who share the same drive. "Having the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and be supported by experienced mentors from various fields is incredibly empowering."

The UNDP SDG Innovation Pilot Project (Shenzhen, Longhua) is a joint initiative involving the UNDP, China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (under the Ministry of Commerce), and the Longhua District Government of Shenzhen.

HUA HUB, established as part of the pilot project, is dedicated to linking global innovation networks to explore innovative policies, pathways, and localized solutions for sustainable development in mega cities. Since launching in August 2024, HUA HUB has played a pivotal role in enabling enterprise internationalization, building sustainable innovation networks, and empowering international youth development.

In the coming week, the camp will host intensive capacity-building training sessions led by experts from international organizations, research institutions, and government agencies. These sessions will cover topics including Longhua’s internationalized block development and global case studies of sustainable urban districts.