Community Involvement & Leadership John MA (GCS) Youth World Summit 2026, Paris, France John participated as a delegate in the 2026 Youth World Summit in Paris, France. This summit brought together youth leaders, advocates, students, and professionals from over 60 countries to promote dialogue, collaboration, and leadership development. In an era of evolving political, social, and technological challenges, the summit provided a valuable platform for young people committed to solving common global problems, enabling them to exchange ideas and collaborate across cultures. For him, the most valuable part of the summit was the opportunity to meet and directly exchange views with youth leaders from around the world. Interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds broadened his understanding of international affairs and enhanced his interest in public administration. Madilyn ZHANG (GCS) Volunteering in Kenya, VolTra Madilyn (right) took a gap year in Fall 2025 to volunteer in Kenya through VolTra, Hong Kong. The year was unexpectedly demanding. Stepping onto Kenyan soil with a vast ambition to create something meaningful, she instead confronted harsh truths: the lack of hot water, young girls her age facing pregnancy, and the Ugandan housekeeper’s daily struggle to feed her entire family. Madilyn reflects that many, if not all, of us at HKUST benefit from unwavering access to food, stable accommodation, and quality education. Such privileges, she emphasizes, warrant profound gratitude rather than being taken for granted. Jason WAN (QSA) Volunteering What is your dream? Jason’s dream is to be happy in life. Throughout his volunteering journey, Jason met new friends, tried things he never imagined doing, and expanded his network far beyond what he imagined possible. But more than any of that, he found joy — a genuine but quiet joy. It didn’t matter whether he was helping a person, an animal, or the environment; each act of service reminded him that he could be useful, that his presence mattered. That sense of purpose gave him confidence he had never felt before. Happiness, he has learned, isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you build by showing up for others. If you’re searching for your own jail key, don’t just wait. Start small, do volunteer work that speaks to you, and let purpose find you along the way. Andy YAU (GCS) and Bennett WONG (GCS) NGO – Fruitful Ngai Fung (Bennett) Wong is a Global China Studies alumnus who holds an MPA in Climate, Innovation and Sustainability Policies from University College London (UCL). He co-founded Fruitful* with Ho Lun (Andy) Yau, a current Global China Studies student. They share a conviction that sustainability should be within everyone’s reach, and they pair material innovation with education. Beyond the lab, Andy and Bennett have delivered hands-on STEM workshops across Spain and Hong Kong, introducing undergraduates and secondary school students to ESG principles and the circular economy. Through Fruitful, they aspire to become social leaders—empowering the next generation to turn small, sustainable choices into a fruitful future for the planet. *Fruitful is an innovative venture transforming fruit and landscape waste into accessible vegan leather — making cruelty-free fashion the norm, not a luxury. 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=