InspireMe Festival 2026: Our Annual Flagship

crystalchan88
23 hours ago
3 min read

Article by: Crystal Chan and Kristie Fu, Co-Regional Managers of HELLO Trust Shenzhen

Now in its third year, the InspireMe Festival has grown into a valued community tradition. On 7 March 2026, HELLO Trust hosted the festival at Harrow International School Shenzhen, bringing together students, educators, families, and autistic children for an afternoon of creativity, inclusion, and connection.

This year’s festival was co-hosted with the “心与星行” Society from Sendelta International Academy, whose support and sponsorship helped expand the scale and reach of the event. Members of HELLO Trust from Hong Kong and Shenzhen collaborated with volunteers from Sendelta and The ISF Academy, demonstrating the power of cross-school and cross-regional collaboration.

Together, these young leaders created an event that celebrated community, empathy, and creativity.

Event Impact

This year’s InspireMe Festival brought together a vibrant and diverse community:

50+ families joined the celebration
60+ student volunteers organised and led activities
16 interactive booths designed specifically for neurodiverse participants
Students and families from three schools across two cities

Each activity booth was carefully designed with children’s cognitive and sensory preferences in mind, creating a safe and welcoming environment for participants to explore their creativity and express themselves.

A Day of Creativity and Connection

The festival opened with an energetic performance by three student bands representing the participating schools, followed by a special Hulusi performance by the 微光亲子乐队. The music set a joyful tone for the day, bringing families, students, and volunteers together in celebration.

One of the highlights was a guided drum circle, where autistic children engaged in collective rhythmic play. This activity encouraged social interaction and joyful expression while creating a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.

From 3:00 PM to 4:20 PM, families explored 16 activity booths hosted by student volunteers.

Students from Sendelta International Academy organised creative stations such as air-dry clay modelling, transparent umbrella painting, pipe-cleaner accessory crafting, LEGO building, and a lively karaoke station. These activities encouraged self-expression and imaginative play.

Volunteers from The ISF Academy hosted booths that blended creativity with movement and teamwork, including cream glue DIY crafts, Just Dance rhythm sessions, family charades to encourage nonverbal communication, paper airplane target challenges, and ring toss games that introduced playful competition.

Meanwhile, students from Harrow International School Shenzhen focused on wearable art and hands-on design, inviting children to create tie-dye T-shirts, paint decorative masks, craft pressed-flower bookmarks, and participate in Twister games that encouraged movement and collaboration.

All activities were thoughtfully adapted by volunteers to meet individual needs, ensuring accessibility for participants with diverse abilities and sensory preferences.

Volunteer Spotlight

The success of InspireMe Festival would not have been possible without the dedication of student volunteers. Over 60 students worked together to design activities, support families, and create a welcoming environment for every participant.

Their enthusiasm, patience, and creativity helped ensure that every child could fully enjoy the experience and feel included throughout the day.

Celebrating Every Creation

As the booth activities concluded, families collected their finished crafts from designated drying stations in preparation for the closing showcase. In the festival’s final moments, children proudly displayed their creations on stage while group photos captured the joy and pride shared throughout the day.

The celebration ended with smiles, applause, and a renewed sense of community.

Looking Ahead

At HELLO Trust, our commitment to compassion, inclusion, and growth continues to guide everything we do. As we look toward InspireMe Festival 4.0, we are excited to create even more opportunities for connection, creativity, and community support.

Together, we hope to continue building a world where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered.