Southeast Asian students value rare role as World Games volunteers

Borneo Post

a day ago

Vietnamese student Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa (centre) chats with classmates at Chengdu University on July 24, 2025. – Xinhua photo
CHENGDU (Aug 15): In a classroom on the summer campus of Chengdu University, student volunteers from around the world were receiving training in essential skills and protocols for their roles at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Chengdu University has contributed more than 580 student volunteers – including four international students – to the Chengdu World Games, which is slated for Aug 7 to 17.
Among them is 23-year-old Vietnamese student Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, a first-year graduate arts student who served as a translator in the Athletes' Village.
'As an international student, it's a great honor,' Hoa said.
'It's a chance to contribute while also deepening my understanding of Chinese society and becoming part of it.'
Hoa's interest in China began in childhood through classic TV dramas such as Journey to the West, which sparked her fascination with Chinese culture.
When it came time for university, she chose China's Chengdu University over a local institution in Vietnam.
Hoa (centre) chats with classmates. – Xinhua photo
In her five years in Chengdu, Hoa has progressed academically and found a sense of home.
Fluent in Mandarin and passionate about art, she has traveled widely in China, using her paintbrush to capture landscapes and traditions.
'These five years have been the most precious part of my life,' she said.
'China is vibrant and culturally rich, and Chengdu is a city that feels truly warm. The lifestyle is comfortable, and the food is irresistible.'
'I'm especially excited to meet athletes from different countries and regions,' she said of the Chengdu World Games.
'If I get the chance to help my own country's team, I'll be even more thrilled. I want them to feel support and kindness, even far from home.'
Students like Hoa are more than volunteers – they are cultural ambassadors helping to connect China with the world.
'I've always dreamed of taking part in international events and becoming a global citizen,' said Sysanhouth Thidasavan, a student from Laos.
'When I saw the volunteer recruitment notice, I knew I had to be part of it.'
Ong poses for a photo with the torch after participating in the torch relay for the 12th World Games in Chengdu on July 26, 2025. – Xinhua photo
Ong Xinning, a 21-year-old sophomore from Malaysia, arrived in Chengdu two years ago, drawn by the city's cultural heritage and modern vitality. She is also volunteering for the Games.
Ong likes to make short videos and share her life in China online. One recent project in Meishan featured an intangible cultural heritage craftsman weaving a 99-meter-long bamboo dragon – a video that received widespread praise on social media.
The project also earned Ong the honor of being selected as the 44th torchbearer in the World Games flame relay.
Her family in Malaysia watched the livestream and sent her congratulatory messages.
'It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life,' she said.
'I've watched many international sports events online, but being part of it is totally different.'
'This summer, I'll continue using my camera to tell more Chinese stories,' Ong said.
'Carrying the torch isn't just a ceremonial act. It's about passing on the spirit of unity, friendship, and cultural exchange.' – Xinhua Asian students Chengdu University China World Games volunteers Xinhua