On the afternoon of July 15th, the closing ceremony of the 2024 Shanghai International Sister Cities Youth Camp officially began as a group of campers from Finland, the United States, Mexico, and other countries took the stage to perform a Chinese martial arts piece “Martial Youth” in the spotlight. All campers, foreign leaders, Chinese teachers, and student volunteers participating in this year’s Sister Cities Youth Camp gathered at Putuo Youth Center. Guests from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Putuo District Education Bureau, and International Education Association Shanghai attended the ceremony and presented commemorative certificates to the campers and volunteers.
When scenes of joy, friendship, exchange, and cooperation from the past two weeks appeared on the screen, it brought tears to many eyes. These moments felt as if they had happened just yesterday. At that moment, the teachers and students from both China and sister cities exchanged silent glances and knowing smiles, expressing their deep reluctance to part with the friendships they had formed.
Representatives of the international campers, team leaders, as well as Chinese student and teacher volunteers, shared their cherished memories of the summer camp on stage. Brian O’Carroll from Ireland greeted everyone in Shanghai dialect with “Nong Hao,” saying, “When I first arrived, my knowledge of China was limited to a few scattered facts and words. Now, I’m leaving with a deep understanding of Chinese culture, cuisine, and especially the Chinese people. We’ve developed a strong interest in Chinese culture, and I was particularly amazed by the profound meaning behind the Peking Opera painted masks.” Brian expressed that the endless kindness of the Shanghainese will forever be etched in his heart. Sarah, the team leader from Marseille Group 1, shared that before this Sister Cities Youth Camp, she knew very little about China. “However, in just these two short weeks, I have experienced a beautiful culture vastly different from Europe and tasted many delicacies that I had never encountered in France.” Sarah added that once she returns to France, she can’t wait to share this wonderful experience with her family and friends. “I will tell them that visiting China, especially Shanghai, is a poetic, picturesque and beautiful journey.”
For the Chinese student and teacher volunteers who participated throughout the Sister Cities Youth Camp, this experience has also been one of growth and development. Gong Yimeng from Shanghai Jinyuan Senior High School, who had never had in-depth contact with foreign friends before, served as the student volunteer leader for the San Francisco group. Not only did her language communication skills improve significantly, but she also formed strong partnerships and friendships with the campers, gaining a deeper understanding of Shanghai’s openness and inclusiveness.
The teacher volunteers witnessed the transformation of students from unfamiliarity to familiarity and from individuals to a cohesive team. “The Sister Cities Youth Camp serves as a bridge connecting youth from different countries, cities, and cultures, witnessing friendship, unity, cooperation, and understanding.” Yang Rui, a teacher volunteer from Sunshine Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University, reflected on the growth and transformation of the students from both China and abroad over the past two weeks. “These 14 days flew by so quickly. I wish I could keep them here, but I can’t,” said Xu Shiyuan, a volunteer from Shanghai Caoyang Middle School, as he silently shed tears upon receiving his volunteer certificate. Nearby, Patrik, a member of his Slovak team, gently patted his back. In the bittersweet farewell between the two young people from different countries, the differences in geography and culture could not hinder the precious friendship they had formed.
The campers took the stage to showcase their talents and cultural integration. Student volunteers from Finland, Mexico, the United States, and Shanghai together presented a lively medley of songs, with classics such as “青花瓷” and “Love Story” resonating throughout the venue. The atmosphere was further ignited by the performance of “最炫民族风” by the Chinese and Irish youth. The upbeat and rhythmic song, with its lyrics “Let me keep you with my heart...”, drew cheers and applause from the audience.
At the closing ceremony, the showcase of traditional Chinese culture courses became the highlight of the entire event. Amidst cheers, foreign campers dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, including “Guard with a Sword,” “Elegant Lady,” and “Tang Dynasty Princess,” gracefully took the stage. Accompanied by the soothing and elegant melody of “兰亭序” the foreign campers in Hanfu displayed the breathtaking beauty of Eastern charm, leaving the audience in awe. As Slovak camper Matej played a melodious tune on the zither, both Chinese and foreign campers sang the Chinese folk song “茉莉花” blending singing and dancing to create a seamless fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. This performance perfectly showcased the diversity, openness, and inclusiveness of Chinese charm and ethnic beauty. In the end, all the campers came together for a heartfelt rendition of “Remember Me,” embracing and bidding farewell on stage. “I will remember everything here, and the friends I’ve made from China and around the world,” said Chamal, a camper from Sri Lanka, excitedly speaking to reporters after the event.
Outside the venue, the main backdrop wall was covered with notes filled with memories and blessings, and there were also camp uniforms signed by participants and tear-stained eyes. These scenes vividly reflected the beautiful memories that Chinese and international youth created in Shanghai this summer, their deep appreciation for traditional Chinese culture, and their shared hopes for strengthened exchanges among youth from different countries. The 2024 Shanghai International Sister Cities Youth Camp concluded successfully. This beautiful experience has deepened and extended the communication, cooperation, understanding, and friendship among the youth from various countries. We believe that they will carry these gains and blessings forward, working together to create a brighter future for humanity.
Original: Shanghai Putuo
