Members of Longhua’s newly launched multilingual volunteer team gather for a group photo following the launch ceremony held at Longhua Children's Palace on Jan. 10. Cai Weijian

Longhua District officially launched its multilingual volunteer service team at the Longhua Children's Palace on Jan. 10, as the city prepares to host the APEC summit in November.

More than 80 participants, including district officials and volunteer representatives, attended the launch ceremony, which featured a flag presentation, a group pledge, and a vibrant multilingual showcase.

To meet the high standards expected for the international event, the Communist Youth League Longhua District Committee, in collaboration with the Longhua District Foreign Affairs Office, Communist Youth League (CYL) Work Committee of Longhua District Education Bureau, and other institutions, recruited over 340 volunteers fluent in languages including English, Russian, French, Korean, and German. Recruited via public calls on digital media platforms including Shenzhen Longhua and Longhua Youth, the team is organized into language groups and operates under a “1+N” leadership model — where a core volunteer leads a team — to boost coordination and service quality.

The launch also marked the rollout of three flagship initiatives:

APEC Youth Night School — A training program designed to strengthen cross-cultural communication and real-world application skills. To date, 12 themed sessions have been held, engaging more than 360 young participants.

Charming Longhua, Global Impression — A digital campaign promoting the district’s image through APEC-themed social media content, which has already reached 15,000 views.

Frontline Beautification, Service Enhancement — An upgrade initiative targeting volunteer service centers and youth hubs to create a more internationalized service environment. It also includes a campaign to review and improve English public signs in the district.

“I feel deeply honored to contribute to APEC using my language skills,” said volunteer representative Zhong Yiwen. “The training has boosted my confidence in cross-cultural settings, and I’m ready to give my best.”

Volunteers attended their first etiquette training session following the ceremony. Officials say ongoing training, along with media outreach through youth-focused columns and multilingual videos, will continue as part of Longhua’s broader efforts to showcase its vitality and global openness.