Edmond Pognon (R) helps an international visitor at the international service center in Shenzhen North Railway Station. Photos from WeChat account "深圳龙华“ unless otherwise stated

As travelers streamed through Shenzhen North Railway Station during China's National Day holiday, one volunteer stood out from the crowd: an American English teacher holding a sign that read "Volunteer."

On Oct. 2, Edmond Pognon, a longtime Shenzhen resident, was helping international travelers navigate the busy transport hub in Longhua District.

At the international service center in the station's east square, he noticed a foreign traveler struggling to use the metro. Pognon stepped in, explained different ways to buy tickets and pointed out the ticket counters and metro entrance. The relieved traveler thanked him repeatedly.

Edmund Pognon (R) and a fellow volunteer assist a traveler at an information desk at Shenzhen North Railway Station.

Edmund Pognon (2nd L) shares practical English communication tips with fellow volunteers at Shenzhen North Railway Station.

But Pognon's contribution went beyond helping passengers find their way.

At the station's service desk, he also coached local volunteers in practical English, teaching phrases such as "Welcome to Shenzhen," "Where are you heading?" and "Do you need help?" He demonstrated pronunciation and encouraged them to speak confidently with international visitors.

"Shenzhen is an international city, and many foreign travelers encounter difficulties buying tickets or finding directions at Shenzhen North Railway Station," Pognon said. "I'm happy that I can help them."

Edmund Pognon teaches English to residents at the Shenzhen North Railway Station Community Party and Masses Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict. Photo by Cai Weize

A TESOL-certified English teacher with more than 15 years of teaching experience, Pognon has been sharing his language skills with the local community since May.

Invited by community volunteers, he began teaching free English classes at the Shenzhen North Railway Station Community Party and Masses Service Center in Minzhi Subdistrict.

Held every Tuesday afternoon, the classes cover practical situations such as transportation, shopping, dining and giving directions, along with cross-cultural communication and emergency response. He has taught nearly 20 sessions and also volunteered at a children's class during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, helping young learners introduce Chinese traditions in English.

American English teacher Edmund Pognon leads an interactive English lesson for residents of the Shenzhen North Railway Station Community in Longhua District.

Pognon has lived in Shenzhen since 2002 and considers the city his second home. Having built a career and family here, he sees volunteering as a way to give back.

"I used to be a teacher, and volunteering is something I enjoy," he said.

As Shenzhen prepares to host the APEC meetings in November, efforts to improve multilingual services are helping make the city more accessible to international visitors.

For Pognon, volunteering is also a way to share the sense of belonging he has found in Shenzhen. He hopes his experience will inspire more international residents to become involved in the communities they now call home.