Youth Spotlight is an accomplished service club at Shanghai American School (SAS). Established in 2015, the club has now amassed over 70 members in the SAS chapter, opened six chapters around the world, and manages 21 soccer teams across Anhui. I recently had the honour of interviewing the club founder and president, Shelly Huang, to gain more insight on the club’s roots and recent successes.
ECHO: What inspired you to create Youth Spotlight?
HUANG: My dad. I remember watching the news with him during dinner in my freshman year, and during that time the story about four left-behind children who committed suicide was being covered for almost a week on television. We talked a lot about the issue and I think my dad really prompted me towards thinking that perhaps I could do something to change this.
ECHO: And that is?
HUANG: In its purest form, helping left-behind children find happiness. To at least attempt to prevent such a horrible event [referring to the suicides of the four left-behind children] from occurring again. You and I, we don’t experience the pain and hardships left-behind children do. The least we can do is use the privilege that we have to make a difference— which led me to create Youth Spotlight.
ECHO: How does Youth Spotlight help left-behind children find happiness?
HUANG: Exercise has been proven to release chemicals that trigger happiness in your brain. Youth Spotlight not only provides left-behind children an opportunity to feel that wave of chemicals, but also the opportunity to develop a sense of camaraderie– to not feel so lonely anymore.
ECHO: Do you agree that your club centres around being thankful for the privilege you’re given?
HUANG: Wholeheartedly. And to use it to help people who aren’t as privileged.
ECHO: So who do you have to thank for the success or creation of Youth Spotlight?
HUANG: I want to thank JuHo Seo. [Grins] He’s an efficient worker and gets what we need done in Youth Spotlight out of his love for soccer and commitment to our organization.
ECHO: It’s been an eventful two years since Youth Spotlight first began. How did you struggle through the establishment of Youth Spotlight and how did you overcome these obstacles?
HUANG: I think getting started was the hardest part. I remember searching for schools with a high population of left-behind children online and calling them one after another after another. [Sighs in reminiscence and chuckles briefly] I compiled a list of thirty schools and called them all. Some thought I was a liar, some did not want to cooperate, but eventually I found one principal that really liked my idea and was willing to meet with me. That became the first every team we formed, the TianZhuShan Elementary School Team.
ECHO: Why reach out to these left-behind children through soccer?
HUANG: Soccer is a team sport that [comprises of] both collaboration and communication. It teaches the soft skills that left-behind children can’t learn in a classroom setting. Soccer also has a low barrier to entry— any child can pick up a soccer ball and kick it around regardless of their location and conditions. Soccer also happens to be President Xi’s favourite sport!
ECHO: I’ve heard many people ask if Youth Spotlight could maybe try another sport…
HUANG: No. Soccer it is.
ECHO: Can you tell me about the current goals of the club?
HUANG: We just committed to forming 10 more soccer teams for the left-behind children in JinZhai county [this December]. We’re really proud of that! As for now, we are wrapping up the uniform designs for the new schools and will plan for further expansion of our club in 2018.
ECHO: What do you believe is Youth Spotlight’s greatest achievement?
HUANG: Truly empowering left-behind children. When I see them run on the soccer field, laughing, making friends, and crying when they lose a game, I know that Youth Spotlight really changed them. Through soccer, they are able to experience pride and find the meaning of responsibility.
ECHO: It sounds like the kids have learned a lot, but what has Youth Spotlight taught you?
HUANG: Youth Spotlight has truly brought out my compassion. I’ve decided that one of my life missions will always be to give back to the community and empower others. I hope this club teaches the same for all of our members and the SAS community.
ECHO: As a senior, this is your last year with Youth Spotlight. What are your hopes for the future of this club?
HUANG: No, this is definitely not by last year with Youth Spotlight. [Smiles confidently] As the CEO of this non-profit, I’ll continue to help it grow as I enter college. Hopefully, with more connections and political platform, I’ll be able to turn Youth Spotlight into a national organization that touches on the lives of left-behind children all around China. I think the philosophy of Youth Spotlight needs to be adapted into all rural Chinese schools, and I do hope to voice this plan to top decision makers in China. After all, through soccer we dream.
To learn more about Youth Spotlight, feel free to drop in during the break meetings at Ms. Zhu’s room (H110) on Tuesdays or visit their website at youthspotlight.org.
Annie Xie
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| (courtesy of Shelly Huang) |
ECHO: What inspired you to create Youth Spotlight?
HUANG: My dad. I remember watching the news with him during dinner in my freshman year, and during that time the story about four left-behind children who committed suicide was being covered for almost a week on television. We talked a lot about the issue and I think my dad really prompted me towards thinking that perhaps I could do something to change this.
ECHO: And that is?
HUANG: In its purest form, helping left-behind children find happiness. To at least attempt to prevent such a horrible event [referring to the suicides of the four left-behind children] from occurring again. You and I, we don’t experience the pain and hardships left-behind children do. The least we can do is use the privilege that we have to make a difference— which led me to create Youth Spotlight.
ECHO: How does Youth Spotlight help left-behind children find happiness?
HUANG: Exercise has been proven to release chemicals that trigger happiness in your brain. Youth Spotlight not only provides left-behind children an opportunity to feel that wave of chemicals, but also the opportunity to develop a sense of camaraderie– to not feel so lonely anymore.
ECHO: Do you agree that your club centres around being thankful for the privilege you’re given?
HUANG: Wholeheartedly. And to use it to help people who aren’t as privileged.
ECHO: So who do you have to thank for the success or creation of Youth Spotlight?
HUANG: I want to thank JuHo Seo. [Grins] He’s an efficient worker and gets what we need done in Youth Spotlight out of his love for soccer and commitment to our organization.
ECHO: It’s been an eventful two years since Youth Spotlight first began. How did you struggle through the establishment of Youth Spotlight and how did you overcome these obstacles?
HUANG: I think getting started was the hardest part. I remember searching for schools with a high population of left-behind children online and calling them one after another after another. [Sighs in reminiscence and chuckles briefly] I compiled a list of thirty schools and called them all. Some thought I was a liar, some did not want to cooperate, but eventually I found one principal that really liked my idea and was willing to meet with me. That became the first every team we formed, the TianZhuShan Elementary School Team.
 |
| (courtesy of Shelly Huang) |
ECHO: Why reach out to these left-behind children through soccer?
HUANG: Soccer is a team sport that [comprises of] both collaboration and communication. It teaches the soft skills that left-behind children can’t learn in a classroom setting. Soccer also has a low barrier to entry— any child can pick up a soccer ball and kick it around regardless of their location and conditions. Soccer also happens to be President Xi’s favourite sport!
ECHO: I’ve heard many people ask if Youth Spotlight could maybe try another sport…
HUANG: No. Soccer it is.
ECHO: Can you tell me about the current goals of the club?
HUANG: We just committed to forming 10 more soccer teams for the left-behind children in JinZhai county [this December]. We’re really proud of that! As for now, we are wrapping up the uniform designs for the new schools and will plan for further expansion of our club in 2018.
ECHO: What do you believe is Youth Spotlight’s greatest achievement?
HUANG: Truly empowering left-behind children. When I see them run on the soccer field, laughing, making friends, and crying when they lose a game, I know that Youth Spotlight really changed them. Through soccer, they are able to experience pride and find the meaning of responsibility.
ECHO: It sounds like the kids have learned a lot, but what has Youth Spotlight taught you?
HUANG: Youth Spotlight has truly brought out my compassion. I’ve decided that one of my life missions will always be to give back to the community and empower others. I hope this club teaches the same for all of our members and the SAS community.
ECHO: As a senior, this is your last year with Youth Spotlight. What are your hopes for the future of this club?
HUANG: No, this is definitely not by last year with Youth Spotlight. [Smiles confidently] As the CEO of this non-profit, I’ll continue to help it grow as I enter college. Hopefully, with more connections and political platform, I’ll be able to turn Youth Spotlight into a national organization that touches on the lives of left-behind children all around China. I think the philosophy of Youth Spotlight needs to be adapted into all rural Chinese schools, and I do hope to voice this plan to top decision makers in China. After all, through soccer we dream.
To learn more about Youth Spotlight, feel free to drop in during the break meetings at Ms. Zhu’s room (H110) on Tuesdays or visit their website at youthspotlight.org.
Annie Xie
