Introduction: Opening the Cabinet: A Celebration of Young Voices

On June 2, Hongkou Young Voices 2026 event was held by Hongkou Campus at the WE Theater of the Shanghai World Expo Museum. One hundred and fifty-six students shared their thoughts, learning outcomes, and personal growth stories through thematic speeches, artistic performances, interactive exchanges, and project displays.

Themed "My Cabinet of Wonders: Connecting Our World", the event encouraged children to express themselves around topics such as dreams, support, culture, technology, and the future. Through language, art, and creativity, they presented their views of the world while also showcasing the outcomes of the school's interdisciplinary project-based learning.

From stage presentations to museum exploration, students expressed ideas, exchanged thoughts, and built connections in authentic contexts, experiencing the many links between learning and life, and between the individual and the world.

Chapter 1: The First Treasure: Branches of Young Hearts

Hosted by Ms. Becky and Mr. Samuel alongside student hosts Max and Victoria, the event kicked off with an imaginative bilingual opening. The young hosts, Max and Victoria, introduced the theme "My Cabinet of Wonders: Connecting Our World" and invited the audience to embark on a journey of children's expression.

Following the opening, art teacher Ms. Huang, together with three student representatives, Olivia from Grade 1, Edward from Grade 2, and Clemence from Grade 3, took the stage to introduce the co-created artwork Branches of Young Hearts, which was selected for exhibition at the Shanghai World Expo Museum.

"Every child is a branch growing toward the light," Ms. Huang explained, capturing the essence of the piece. The artwork was completed by all 156 students at the campus. Using leaves, colorful balls, paper cups, and clay, the children captured moments of "support" in their daily lives. Transitioning from observers to creators, the students not only expressed their feelings but also engaged in a genuine artistic practice through collaboration. The museum-school partnership brought art education into real-world spaces, allowing each "leaf" to become a unique record of growth.

Chapter 2: Treasure Talks: Voices of Wonders

Part 1: Dreams & Strength: From Ideas to Courage

The second chapter of the event contained two parts. Each section of the "Voices of Wonder" took a different route to show the powerful ideas and inspirations of the students. The first part centered on the theme "My Dream & My Hero", talking about the dreams of the students and the heroes that inspired them, where four young speakers took the stage one by one to share their ideas.

G3 Sean | Never Stop Chasing Your Dreams

Sean shared his dream of becoming a confident speaker. Despite challenges with pronunciation caused by tongue-tie, he never gave up. The perseverance of scientist Stephen Hawking became his hero and inspiration along the way. Through persistent practice and self-challenge, Sean proved that physical limitations cannot confine dreams. By speaking bravely, everyone can shine in their own way.

G2 Andy | The Adventure of My Little Front Tooth

Andy recounted an accident in which he fell and lost a front tooth. With the help of a classmate's mother, doctors, and his family, the tooth was successfully replanted. This unforgettable experience planted a seed of dreams in his heart – to become a dental inventor, using his knowledge and innovations to help more children protect their dental health.

G2 Howard | My Robot Hero

Howard dreams of becoming a robot creator, building "real heroes" that can help people. On his journey, his teacher's encouragement and his teammates' support became his most important heroes, helping him push through challenges in the Botball robotics competition. Through this experience, he learned that courage, perseverance, and teamwork are the greatest strengths for making dreams come true.

G1 Lucas | The Future of Shanghai

Lucas shared his hero and dream through an imaginative painting titled The Future of Shanghai. Influenced by his father, an architect, he came to understand that heroes are not just people with superpowers, but ordinary individuals who quietly build and protect the city. The treehouses, flying cars, and mobile homes in his painting reflect his vision of a future city and his aspiration to become a builder and guardian of Shanghai.

Drawing from their real-life experiences, the children spoke about dreams, growth, and support, showing how ideas can be turned into action.

Ms. Mo noted in her comments that these stories reveal that heroes are not distant figures but people who are willing to work hard, care for others, and take consistent action.

Following this, more heartwarming stories emerged around the theme "The Power of Support". This section allowed speakers to share how the people around them had helped them grow and achieve their goals.

G1 Aidan | A Sour Papaya That Generates Electricity

Aidan used a playful and imaginative painting to express his understanding of support. In his eyes, the colorful lines surrounding the sour papaya were not restraints but expressions of care and encouragement from family, teachers, and friends. It is this support that keeps "recharging" him, helping him gain courage and overcome difficulties, and making him believe that love and companionship help everyone grow.

G2 Olivia | My Eyes, My Heart, The Power of Support

Olivia shared how she initiated a donation drive on her 7th birthday, using the money raised to purchase health supplies for girls in need. Through this experience, she discovered that support comes not only from family, teachers, and friends, but from anyone willing to lend a helping hand. For Olivia, caring for others and taking action is what support looks like at its strongest.

G3 Max | Five Stickmen, One Book, A Connected World

Max and four classmates co-created the comic Stickman and donated the proceeds from a charity sale to children in Yunnan. In Max's story, teamwork among peers, encouragement from teachers, and support from parents all helped turn a simple idea into a complete comic book. This collective support not only sparked creativity but also allowed the work to reach a larger stage and make a positive impact.

G3 Amy | A Small Idea, A Big Miracle

Amy shared the story of launching the "RE Environmental Team". What started as an idea about reusing old clothes gradually grew into an influential environmental initiative with the active participation of classmates, inspiration from parents, and support from teachers and community platforms. Through this journey, she learned that support is not just about encouragement and involvement, but also about co-creation and sustained action. For Amy, when everyone is willing to contribute a little, small ideas can come together to create the power to change the world.

Ms. Jen commented that support does not always require grand gestures; it can be found in everyday acts of kindness, responsibility, and action. She encouraged the children to continue caring for others and using their own strengths to make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.

During the interactive session, parents and students also shared their thoughts. Some parents were deeply moved by the children's creativity and initiative; some students talked about how teamwork contributed to their growth; and others shared heartwarming moments of encouragement from their families. These exchanges and responses made more people feel like they were part of the conversation.

Part 2: Time & Connection: Different Worlds, One Connection

Around the theme "Past Meets Future", children explored ways to connect the world through mythology, history, family memories, and visions of the future.

G1 Olivia | From Ancient Myths to Future Moon

Olivia was inspired by the ancient mythology exhibits at the World Expo Museum and the real lunar soil on display. She saw how stories of the past connect with today's science. Through her painting, she brought together the mythical moon, real lunar science, and her imagination of future life on the moon. For her, "Past Meets Future" means that old stories inspire today's exploration and spark new ideas about tomorrow.

G2 Kai | Yesterday's Strings, Tomorrow's Wings

Using his self-published comic Helicopter Parents as a starting point, Kai explored trust and growth between parents and children. He reflected on the overprotectiveness that sometimes comes from parental love, shared how taking responsibility helped him earn trust, and showed how children and parents can grow together to build a better future.

G3 Alexander | My Greek Mythology Cabinet of Wonders: When Ancient Gods Feel Human

Alexander brought together books, travel photos, and mythological collectibles to create his "Greek Mythology Cabinet of Wonders." In his view, myths belong not only to the past but also connect to the future. The wisdom and courage embodied by Athena, and the growth and reflection in Hercules' journey, both show how ancient stories can still inspire the choices we make today and the futures we build tomorrow.

G3 Esme | Grandma's Bowl, Our Flowers

Esme presented an old bowl that has been with her family for thirty years. Every spring, her family paints a flower on the bowl, recording growth and memories. The bowl, which traveled from Taiwan to Shanghai, carries the story of her grandmother's struggles and connects the emotions and memories of multiple generations. In Esme's eyes, it not only records the past but will continue to carry new stories into the future.

Mr. James commented that whether through myths, family traditions, or visions of the future, these stories help us understand the past, make sense of the present, and look forward to what lies ahead. The children's presentations reflected their thoughts on time, culture, and growth.

Then, under the theme "Different Worlds, One Connection," the children continued their exploration from the perspectives of technology, art, and nature.

G2 Austin | From a Sports Boy to an AI Creator

Drawing on his own experiences with sports injuries, Austin used AI technology to develop "Safety Buddy," a sports safety assistant designed to help more children learn how to stay safe. In his view, technology not only solves practical problems but can also bridge geographical and cultural divides, connecting people from different worlds.

G2 Ryan | Listen! The Beat That Spans a Thousand Years

Ryan took the audience on a journey to discover music and dance traditions across different civilizations, including China, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India. In his view, music and dance are a universal language that transcends words, cultures, and time. By using AI to create music and art, and then performing a hip-hop dance, Ryan demonstrated a unique connection between ancient civilizations and modern technology.

G2 Natalie | Hello, Nature!

Through her artwork Hello, Nature!, which was exhibited in the Children's Art Exhibition at the Museum of Art Pudong, Natalie shared her reflections on the virtual world versus the natural world. She encouraged everyone to put down their screens and look up at the sunset, the stars, and the friends around them. In her view, even though we live in different worlds, the real and warm connection between people and nature is always worth cherishing.

Ms. Zhao noted that technology, art, and nature though different in their paths, can all help us understand the world and connect with one another. The children's presentations not only showcased their learning outcomes but also demonstrated how they observe the world, think about issues, and try to build connections in their own unique ways.

From dreams and growth to family, culture, technology, and nature, the children shared their observations, experiences, and thoughts through authentic stories and rich creativity. They showed how, starting from their own personal experiences, they can build connections with others, with society, and with the wider world.

"Treasures in Voice – Connecting the World Through Language" is not just the theme of this chapter, but the very essence of HK Young Voices. The children expressed their ideas through language, conveyed their thoughts through their work, and responded to the world with care and action. Through expression and listening, they continued to broaden their horizons, allowing more people to see how learning extends beyond the classroom into the real world.

Chapter 3: Rhythms & Melodies

As the music began, the Dreamstep Dance Club took the stage in red-and-white costumes and paper-cut headpieces, performing the dance Paper-Cut Girls. Using their bodies to imitate the opening, closing, and stretching motions of paper-cutting, they transformed the beauty of this intangible cultural heritage into "treasures between paper" on stage. The red paper seemed to dance in the air, blending tradition with childlike innocence, earning waves of applause.

Afterward, the GLEE Club slowly walked onto the stage. As the song Never Say Never filled the theater, the children sang with clear and determined voices, expressing their courage to face challenges and bringing the atmosphere to a stirring climax.

Chapter 4: Honor & Guidance

Ms. Chris, Director of the Hongkou Campus, spoke as a representative of the "guardians". She fully affirmed the students' courage, expressive ability, and creativity, and expressed sincere gratitude to the teachers, parents, and organizations such as the World Expo Museum and Shanghai Morning Post. She also encouraged the children to always remain curious, to express themselves bravely, and to explore the world with confidence.

Then came the much-anticipated "Curiosity Honors" moment. Teacher representatives, along with Ms. Wang Yangmin from the World Expo Museum and Mr. Cui Jiandong from Shanghai Morning Post, presented certificates to the children. The awards included the "Starlight Participation Award", the "Voices of Wonder Award", and the "Co-creation Participation Certificate," recognizing the students' engagement, expression, and creativity.

These honors were not only affirmations of outcomes but also recognitions of effort, perseverance, and courage. What the children gained was a valuable growth experience: they stepped onto a stage, shared their stories, gained confidence through expression and dialogue, and felt the joy of being heard and appreciated.

Chapter 5: From Stage to Museum: The Journey Continues

After the event, students visited the exhibition halls of the World Expo Museum with homeroom teachers. They toured the co-creation exhibition "Cabinet of REAL: Art Connects the World", created for International Museum Day 2026. From the stage to the exhibition hall, the learning space extended from the classroom to the museum, where children continued to explore and learn through observation, discussion, and hands-on experience.

In the exhibition hall, when the children saw Branches of Young Hearts, the artwork created by all 156 students on campus, many stopped to admire it, searching for their own "leaf" and sharing the story behind it with their peers. They also carefully explored works from other schools, appreciating different forms of creativity and expression through discussion and observation. This visit not only allowed students to see the results of their own learning but also helped them further understand the theme "Connecting Our World" within an authentic cultural context.

Conclusion: Young Voices, Wonderful Worlds

HK Young Voices is more than a showcase; it is a platform for students to express themselves and connect with others.

Here, children share what they have observed, experienced, and thought. As they listen to the stories of others, they continue to expand their understanding of the world. From classroom learning to project-based practice, from personal interests to social issues, each act of expression records a step in their growth journey.

Looking ahead, Hongkou Campus will continue to create opportunities for students to share and connect, so that more authentic voices can be heard, and so that learning can keep happening through connection.

(Written by Nina Kang

Pictures by Elaine Zhu, Parent Volunteer

Reviewed by Ms. Zhu Dan, Shiyu Wu)