2024 began with exciting news of university acceptances for the Class of 2024. Offers from prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Stanford University marked a promising start of the year.

On 26 January, YCIS Hong Kong students visited YWIES Guangzhou to celebrate "Chinese Language Week - Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival". The students experienced the richness of traditional Chinese culture and gained an understanding of the true meaning of cultural heritage through various activities, such as the Guangdong Lion Dance, plaster moulding, and Choy Li Fut (a martial art).

YCYW partnered with Genting Snow Park to establish the "YCYW Genting Sports Development Base". Genting Snow Park was a venue for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Through this partnership, YCYW aims to promote skiing within the YCYW Education Network.

On 22 February, YCIS Hong Kong students from Years 7 to 10 participated in their inaugural charity Walkathon to promote sustainable lifestyles.

Several significant events occurred in March.

On 1-2 March, YCYW hosted its inaugural International Education Symposium, "Transforming Education, Empowering Humanity: China's Contributions to the Understanding of International Education". This event attracted more than ten thousand participants, both in-person and online, including Chinese and international staff members, parents, and alumni.

The Seeds of Hope Concert returned after a four-year hiatus. On 16 March, more than 350 students and teachers from across various YCYW campuses gathered in Shanghai. They used music as the medium to raise funds for the Seeds of Hope programme, contributing to building a better society through practical actions.

At the end of March, YCYW launched the Future School Programme at YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang. This programme provides students with an educational model and space that combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, encouraging them to explore cutting-edge subjects and develop into well-rounded future talents.

On 29 March, Mr Zhang Weihua, Security Team Leader at YCIS Shanghai Pudong Century Park Campus, celebrated his last working day before his retirement. During his 13 years at YCIS, Mr Zhang earned the trust and respect of teachers, students, and parents for his rigorous work ethic and selfless dedication. He was affectionately known as "Zhang Shifu".👇This film narrates the story of Zhang Shifu

The third season of the Planet Leadership Series took place in YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang on 22 April. Ms Zhuang Yong, China's first Olympic Gold Medallist in swimming, recounted her inspiring journey of dreams, courage, and resilience forged through sports. 

On 20 April, Ms Haruka Ostley, the YCYW Artist-in-Residence, hosted the "You Are Not Alone" Art & Healing Exhibition and Book Launch at the Being Art Museum in Shanghai. She demonstrated the healing power of the arts through a live-art creation performance with YCIS Shanghai teachers and students.👉 Here is Ms Haruka Ostley's story

On 30 May, YCYW held a seminar on "Exploring the Trailblazing Journey of Early Childhood Education Practice", and launched the simplified Chinese version of The Yew Chung Approach to Early Childhood Education, at YWIES Beijing Yizhuang. The Yew Chung Approach to ECE is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural traditions and values, yet embraces a global perspective, rendering it unique among international early childhood education pedagogies.

The inaugural YCYW School Games was held at YWIES Zhejiang Tongxiang from 29 to 31 May. Eighteen teams from YCYW campuses across China—Hong Kong SAR, Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Yantai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Zhejiang Tongxiang—competed during the three days of competitions in basketball, football, and athletics.

On 14 May, 21 YWIES Shanghai Gubei students presented their architectural designs to professors from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University. The designs were the results of their studies in the EdFutures' Architecture Programme. This programme uses architectural design as a means to explore multiple perspectives on various issues.