26 August 2026, New York, USA – Three young participants arrived at the Global Diplomacy Bootcamp with very different ideas. One was exploring how art could support children experiencing illness. Another was looking at how airports could reduce risks to aircraft while protecting birds. A third had already built a volunteer network focused on educational opportunities for children in remote areas of China. What connected them was a desire to turn their ideas into action.

The three students presented their initiatives as part of the Fosun Foundation Visionaries Awards, during the opening ceremony of the sixth edition of the Global Diplomacy Bootcamp, organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)  in partnership with Harbour Education.

For Angelique Ho, Threads of Sunshine grew from her volunteering experience at Shanghai Children’s Hospital. The initiative uses painting and other creative activities to help young patients express emotions, reduce stress and build connections with their families.

Developed in collaboration with the hospital, the project contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Angelique also shared plans for a “Sunshine Learning Kit” with additional age-appropriate activities and materials.

Chenyang Qu presented the CoFly Initiative, which explores more sustainable approaches to airport bird control. The project combines ecological management with technologies such as infrared detection and sound and light deterrence, while promoting science communication and community engagement. 

Chenyang hopes to develop the initiative into a replicable model that can support both aviation safety and biodiversity conservation.

For Xinyu Zhang, the presentation showcased an initiative she has been building since 2019. J&E: Sharing for Tomorrow, works to advance educational equity for children in remote areas of China through fundraising campaigns, charity galas and a network of more than 500 volunteers. 

The initiative has established ten “Dream Classrooms,” supported by “dream teachers” and online courses, contributing to SDG 4: Quality Education. Xinyu now hopes to expand the project to 100 Dream Classrooms and build a broader platform for young volunteers. 

Following the presentations, Ms. Patricia Martin de Briones, Senior Programme Specialist at at UNITAR, shared reflections and feedback on the three initiatives, highlighting their creativity, strengths and potential impact. 

The presentations demonstrated the value of giving young people a platform to develop their ideas, receive feedback and engage with an international community. They also set the tone for a week of learning, dialogue and exchange at the 2026 Global Diplomacy Bootcamp.