Celebrating Student Voice and Leadership: Our SI & EDIB Conference Journey in Guangzhou

From 8–11 October 2026, Y7 Amy, Y11 Isabel, Y11 Meggy, and Y12 Liliana proudly represented Léman International School Chengdu at the 2026 Regional Social Impact & EDIB Conference, hosted by the British School of Guangzhou. The conference brought together students and educators from NAE schools across China, creating a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore how young people can make a meaningful difference in their communities.

We are proud of our students for taking an active role in this regional gathering and embracing the opportunity to grow as socially responsible young leaders.

Learning, Leading and Making a Difference

Throughout the three-day conference, students developed their skills in teamwork, public speaking, event planning, and collaborative leadership. Through discussions, guest speakers, and exchanges with student leaders from other NAE schools, they explored practical ways to turn their ideas and values into meaningful action.

Inspired by this year’s conference theme, which aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, students reflected on how responsible choices, inclusion, and collective action could contribute to a more sustainable and caring world.

The experience also encouraged our students to look beyond their own school community, appreciate different perspectives, and recognise the important role young people can play in creating positive change.

Turning Ideas into Action: Celebrating World Children’s Day

A key focus of the conference was the planning of activities for World Children’s Day (WCD), which students will bring back to their own school communities.

Working together, our students thoughtfully planned a WCD celebration with three important aims:

• Celebrating every child: Recognising the value, dignity, and potential of every child.
• Promoting children’s rights: Raising awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), helping students understand their rights and appreciate the importance of respecting the rights of others.
• Spreading love and support: Reaching out to children with disabilities and their families in Chengdu, sharing kindness and helping them feel cared for, valued, and included in the wider community.

These plans reflect an important understanding: celebrating children’s rights is not simply about knowing what those rights are. It is also about putting them into practice through respect, inclusion, empathy, and meaningful support for others.

By connecting children’s rights education with local community engagement, our students are taking steps towards making World Children’s Day a celebration that reaches beyond the classroom and touches the lives of others.

From Student Voice to Positive Change

At Léman International School Chengdu, Social Impact is about empowering students to move from awareness to action. Through opportunities like this conference, students learn to identify needs, work collaboratively, take responsibility, and develop the confidence to lead initiatives that matter.

As our students prepare to bring their WCD plans to life in Chengdu, we look forward to seeing their ideas grow into meaningful action—raising awareness of children’s rights, strengthening community connections, and spreading kindness to children and families who deserve to feel supported and included.

Congratulations to our student representatives for their enthusiasm, commitment, and willingness to make a difference! We are proud to see them growing into compassionate and responsible young leaders who understand that even small actions can create positive change.

Together, we can celebrate every child, promote children’s rights, and create a more caring, respectful, and inclusive community.

Every child matters. Every voice counts. Every act of kindness makes a difference.