From 18 to 25 June 2026, the Global Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Nairobi Study Tour took place in Kenya, led by Prof Ben KU, Professor of APSS and Director of the China and Global Development Network (CGDN) and the PolyU–KazNU Joint Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, together with Dr Kan YIP, Assistant Director of CGDN (Partnership and Development), and comprising postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Kazakhstan; this international initiative was co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD) as the local partner, and aimed to enhance participants' knowledge of sustainable development practices, expose them to real-world applications of the SDGs, and foster cross-cultural understanding.
To explore social work education, national SDG implementation strategies, youth empowerment, child and elderly care, and community-based initiatives, the group visited several key local organisations and sites, including:
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kenya,
- Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development (KISWCD),
- Soweto Youth Initiative and Christian Best Camps of Kenya (CBCK),
- Alzheimer’s Dementia Organisation Kenya (ADOK), and
- Nairobi National Museum, Nairobi National Park, and the Wildlife Conservation Facility (Animal Orphanage).
Through these visits, participants gained firsthand insights into dementia support, faith-based social services, social protection, and informal settlement development. The study tour deepened academic dialogue and fostered profound cross-cultural learning among researchers from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Kazakhstan, and Kenya, underscoring CGDN’s dedication to international exchange and paving the way for future collaboration across Belt and Road countries.
Online coverage:
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: https://farabi.university/news/106217?lang=en
CGDN: https://polyucgdn.com/article/504
