Teens help young adults with autism navigate community life

Volunteers pose for a photo during the activity on April 1. Photos courtesy of the organizers

In the Yuehai Community in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, young adults with autism sold handmade crafts, performed on a small stage and, for some, received their first public hug — all guided by teenage volunteers in a first-of-its-kind social integration event.

Held April 1, ahead of the 19th World Autism Awareness Day, the simulation-style activity was entirely led by youth volunteers from the SWIS Starfire Relay Volunteer Team and supported by the Shenzhen Project Care Foundation. The event aimed to help older adolescents and young adults with autism gain the practical social skills necessary for independent living.

“This is about moving beyond traditional charity to true empowerment,” said Wei Ping, deputy secretary-general of the Shenzhen Project Care Foundation. He praised the young organizers for showing “a sense of responsibility and love that carries the future of public welfare.”

Since 2023, the Starfire team — founded by Xie Qianyi, a student volunteer — has shifted its approach from fundraising and awareness campaigns to what members call “capacity building, social connection and self-sustainability.” April 1’s community integration event marked the first major test of that model.

A young adult with autism performs with the help of a volunteer during the event. 

During the event, volunteers were paired one-on-one with young adults on the autism spectrum, guiding them through a simulated "day in the life of the community. At a charity sale stall, participants sold their paintings, handcrafted items and jointly made lacquer fans. On a small stage, those with musical or artistic talents performed to the enthusiastic cheers of their volunteer peers.

A safety knowledge session, led by a local police officer, provided one of the day’s most moving moments. After listening to the officer explain basic safety rules, one young man with autism stood up and declared, “I want to be a policeman! I want to catch thieves!” The room erupted in heartfelt applause.

Organizers also paid close attention to sensory needs. Aware that some individuals with autism are sensitive to touch, volunteers practiced the intensity and manner of hugging before an “embrace relay.” By evening, several participants who typically resist physical contact had accepted warm, gentle hugs from the participants.

“We will continue to take concrete, practical steps to help young people with autism build the skills they need to live in society,” Xie said. “Our hope is that more people will truly see, understand, and embrace them, so that equality and acceptance light their way forward.”

Young adults with autism receive warm hugs from volunteers and their family members during the activity.