From June 12 to 14, 2026, the 2026 Acceleration Week for Global Youth Development Programs was held in Shanghai’s Lin-gang Special Area. The event was co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, UNICEF and China Youth Daily. The project “Shanghai’s Practice in Engaging International Youth Volunteers in Telling China’s Education Stories”, mainly led by Dr. Ding Ruoxi and Associate Professor Zhang Huafeng from UNESCO-TEC, was selected for this year’s Acceleration Week. Cheng Jialei, a key project member, participated in the event on behalf of the team.
The Acceleration Week brought together more than 230 representatives, including key members of 170 youth development projects from over 70 countries, as well as project mentors and coordinators, for exchanges on eight major themes: Technological Innovation and Application, Volunteerism and Poverty Reduction, Green Development, Artificial Intelligence+, Lifelong Learning and Upskilling, Trendy Culture and Youth Community, Health and Well-being, and Sustainable Production.
On June 13, Cheng Jialei delivered a project roadshow at the Luchaogang Party-Mass Service Center in Nanhui New Town. Addressing young peers from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America, she introduced the practices and explorations of UNESCO-TEC youth volunteers in promoting educational development in the Global South and sharing China’s education experience through international education cooperation projects. Her presentation was well received by fellow group members and mentors.
During the event, Cheng was also invited to visit enterprises including the Shanghai Lin-gang Tesla Center and SANY Heavy Machinery Lin-gang Industrial Park. She engaged in in-depth exchanges with group mentors and other project leaders, broadened her horizons through mutual learning, and contributed to building youth consensus and strength for global development.
