Intl. blocks improve expats' quality of life

The international block program initiated by the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office has been regarded as a platform for expats to integrate into life with local people and a way to improve their quality of life in Shenzhen.

Cao Saixian (2nd L), director-general of the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, poses for a photo after presenting a plaque to representatives from Pingshan District yesterday. Sun Yuchen

Stewart Hansen from New Zealand, who has been living in Shekou for seven years, thought that building the international block has enhanced communications with the expat community, improved the quality of life and tightened the exchanges between the local and expat communities.

When Hansen came to Shenzhen in 2016, he felt the expat community in Shekou was isolated from the local community and there was insufficient information available for expats. Soon, the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats, the first expat-related community service center in the city, was established in 2017 and Hansen became one of the center’s first volunteers.

In Hansen’s spare time, he often comes to the center to help work out guide brochures for expats, conducts training for local employees and contributes to make the center an authoritative platform for expats to acquire and get updated information about living and working in the city.

“The activities the center organized, like crafts, culture trips, food, music and celebrating festive events, have brought the expat and local communities together. The center’s international volunteer program has given us an opportunity to contribute to our local community,” Hansen said during an interview yesterday. He has participated in various volunteer work like working in the fight against COVID-19 over the past three years.

“One of the objectives of building international blocks is to create international exchanges, and this has been an outstanding success at the Shekou center, where relevant information for locals and expats are available through WeChat groups, information seminars, and multilingual brochures,” Hansen said, adding that the international block program has helped break the silos between the expat and local communities and transformed how expats live in their communities.

Expats in action during a boat race on Zhongxin River to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Shekou last year. File photo

The quality of life for expats in Shekou has greatly improved, thanks to the international block, which offered Chinese language classes, information seminars, free legal services and free psychological counseling sessions.

When the city planned to build more international blocks in 2019, Hansen was invited to attend a seminar organized by the local government.

“This quite unique plan has clearly outlined what would be achieved in the coming years, and it is exciting to see how this will develop in communities like Shekou and others across the city,” Hansen said.

International volunteers from Shekou at the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in this file photo taken in 2021. Courtesy of Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats

The volunteer work at the expat service center is regarded as a good practice in building international blocks for expats to partake in community service. As a volunteer, Hansen regularly organizes free language classes for local students. He also serves as an instructor and interpreter during firefighting awareness day, and he has participated in bilingual public sign improvement programs in various neighborhoods.

Over the years, Hansen has been selected as one of the best volunteers from the Shekou International Volunteers Service Team and he has been recommended as a candidate for the selection of the Shenzhen Top 10 Volunteers for the Year 2022, organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Youth League of China.

“In volunteer service, I just did some small and insignificant things, but I have learned a lot and made many good friends. The international block program was well-implemented, and Shenzhen can be proud of what it has achieved,” Hansen said.

Expats’ Remarks

I have been here in Shenzhen for eight years. I feel the international block program is amazing because there are a lot of people from different countries that can gather and share ideas through the expats service centers.

I think if there is more diversity, the city will be better. You can get inspiration from other people, from their countries and cultures. That is why I feel that Shenzhen is a very nice place because you are really inspired by the people here.

In Shenzhen, we don’t feel isolated, but rather feel more connected when seeing people from different countries.

Toppak Esma from Türkiye, doctorate student of economics at Shenzhen University

Taoyuan in Nanshan has been selected as an international block featured in international education and research. The education and research atmosphere in Taoyuan, especially in SUSTech, is awesome. I think the research quality and education in SUSTech is better than that in the U.S. It is really helpful for me.

Shoaib Ali from Pakistan, postdoctorate student of Earth and space science at SUSTech

The international block program is very helpful, especially for foreigners who can’t speak Chinese and can easily get lost and frustrated in China. It is very crucial for many foreigners to integrate into the local community and feel more comfortable and at home.

Petrovskaia Maria from Russia, engaged in e-commerce