In a powerful demonstration of youth-led innovation, the first-ever "Sustainable International Block–Youth Co-Creation Camp" (Youth Co-creation Camp), organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) SDG Innovation Lab (HUA HUB), successfully concluded its final roadshow on Sept. 25. The initiative, which bridges local action in China with global sustainable development goals, showcased how young minds are designing the future of urban spaces.

Photos courtesy of the Longhua International Cooperation Center

The camp was officially launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. Following a recruitment drive in June 2025 that attracted 119 teams from around the world submitting 129 proposals, ten international youth teams were selected. 

They were joined by specially invited local teams to tackle urban challenges in Shenzhen's Longhua District, focusing on five key themes: transportation hub, urban landscape, commercial building, cultural tourism town, and featured community.

Over two months, these young innovators engaged in intensive capacity-building workshops led by experts from international organizations, government bodies, research institutions, and impact investment sectors. From late July to mid-September, the participants conducted in-depth field research in three main blocks in Longhua—Core Zone of Longhua Central Axis Digital Industry, Dalang Fashion Town, and Guanlan Culture Town, collaborating with local authorities to gather firsthand data and refine their projects.

"The innovative 'international' model of this first Youth Camp and the outcomes achieved by the teams are commendable," said Zeng Zhenke, executive deputy director of the Longhua District Committee (Government) Office, during his opening remarks. "The camp's dual focus on internationalization and sustainability aligns perfectly with the development vision of Shenzhen and Longhua."

"The international neighborhood concepts proposed by the participants are not merely redefinitions of architecture and streets but explorations of the symbiotic relationship between people and communities," said Zhang Wei, UNDP China's assistant resident representative. 

"By adhering to a people-centric approach that these innovative ideas and practices align with the core essence of the sustainable development goals." She encouraged the participants to maintain their enthusiasm and courage. 

Showcasing youth-Led solutions

The teams presented actionable plans, blending global benchmarks with local needs:

Transportation hub: Teams proposed smart upgrades for Shenzhen North Railway Station, including 3D spatial mapping and intelligent traffic management systems, inspired by best practices from major international hubs.

Urban landscape: Proposals included creating a multi-sensory nature education trail at Yangtai Mountain Forest Park and designing a movable, eco-friendly "Symbiosis Tree" art installation for Shenzhen North Railway Station Central Park, serving both functional and educational purposes.

Commercial building /Industrial parks:Ideas featured using AIGC (AI-Generated Content) to boost international marketing for small businesses and plans for low-carbon, multi-lingual service centers in the Longhua Design Industrial Park.

Cultural tourism town: For Guanlan Cultural Town, one team suggested AR-powered traditional clothing try-ons and AI multilingual tour guides. For Dalang Fashion Town, concepts involved "open industrial ecosystem blocks" and gamified street experiences to enhance international appeal.

Featured community:Proposals focused on fostering community belonging and intercultural exchange. One team designed a "My Shuiwei New Village Passport" and a community map for the child-friendly Shuiwei New Village, while another proposed using music as a universal language to enhance public space inclusivity for both local and international residents in Baishilong Community.

A distinguished jury panel, including representatives from UNDP, UN-Habitat, the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation, the University of Hong Kong, and the Shenzhen Green Building Association, provided critical feedback.

Zhang Zhenshan, senior advisor at UN-Habitat China Office, emphasized the strategic importance of the projects. "We are in a highly urbanized world... the convergence of creativity can help us propose solutions and accelerate the SDGs," he noted, expressing hope that the ideas would be applicable beyond Shenzhen.

Li Dan, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC) , praised this camp for generating practical ideas to advance neighborhood-level internationalization under the SDG framework. As China's first city-level international exchange foundation, the organization's core mandate is to support Shenzhen's internationalization. 

Li also urged young internationalists to sustain their enthusiasm and creativity while balancing visionary thinking with practical measures to contribute to Shenzhen's internationalization and sustainable development.

Barry Wilson, adjunct associate professor in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, advised the teams to think of cities as complex systems without rigid boundaries, where small actions can have ripple effects.

"The diverse, multi-perspective creative sparks from young people worldwide could become the 'sparking fire' for low-carbon living," said Yu Tianchi, vice president of the Shenzhen Green Building Association.

The camp facilitated over 50 community interviews and 20 field surveys, resulting in comprehensive reports and feasible action plans. HUA HUB has committed to incubating the top proposals with local partners to translate youth creativity into tangible actions for urban sustainability.