Youth Growth in the AI Era: Voice Linking Association Launches the 2025–2026 Academic Year
Toronto, September 7, 2025
The Voice Linking Association (VLA) officially inaugurated its 2025–2026 academic year in Toronto, Canada. The ceremony brought together VLA’s board members, advisory team, youth participants, and parent representatives, while also drawing international guests who joined online.
With the theme “Humanistic Values and Youth Development in the AI Era,” the event outlined VLA’s vision, annual plan, and signature programs—showcasing the vitality, creativity, and warmth of this cross-cultural youth community.
Opening Ceremony Highlights: Building a Platform for Growth and Connection
The ceremony was hosted by Borui Li, Chair of the VLA Board, who extended a warm welcome to all in-person and online participants and expressed special gratitude to Erindale Academy for venue support. He introduced the VLA’s core teams:
Board of Directors: Vice Chairs Lu Jin and Yewen He, Secretary-General Echo Wang, and board members Maria Wang, Hongwei Zhan (online), and Ariel Liu (online).
Advisory Committee: Experts from education, media, and community sectors, including Gao Wei, Director of Operations at Hanson Canada; Mou Fenghua, Head of Youth Voice Media Center; Pu Guangbiao, Operations Director of Erindale Academy; Wu Wenguang, President of the Canada Huadu Association; Wang Yiran, Vice President of the Canada Young Entrepreneurs Club; and Liu Zhentao, representative of the Samaranch Foundation (all online).
Youth Committee: Led by Puyu Liu(Celine), this energetic group of young members serves as the driving force behind VLA’s initiatives.
Borui Li noted:
“VLA’s growth depends on every member’s support. We aim to build a platform that transcends age, culture, and geography—where youth, parents, and experts can see one another and grow together.”
Core Philosophy in the AI Era: Humanity as the Constant
In a keynote address, Vice Chair Scarlet Jin presented VLA’s three guiding principles, illustrating the organization’s humanistic foundation.
1. Humanistic Values: The Anchor of the AI Era
Jin observed that as AI advances toward “an IQ of 15,000,” society’s anxiety often overshadows reflection on human essence—our spirit, emotion, faith, and art. Quoting Morgan Housel’s Same as Ever, she emphasized that “human nature remains the only constant amid change.”
VLA’s foremost goal, she explained, is to guide youth toward spiritual life beyond material existence, helping them preserve humanistic values amid technological transformation.
2. Cultural Integration: Drawing Strength from Difference
Comparing the aesthetic depth of Wang Wei’s “The solitary smoke rises straight in the desert” and Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be,” Jin proposed that “culture is not a barrier but nourishment.”
She noted that many Chinese-Canadian youths face identity confusion, and that VLA promotes bilingual reading and intercultural dialogue to help them find confidence rooted in both Eastern and Western traditions.
3. “Slow Is Fast”: Respecting the Natural Rhythm of Growth
Addressing the pressure and anxiety of modern education, Jin described “speed as the trap of slowness.” She cited professionals who rediscover meaning later in life, underscoring VLA’s rejection of utilitarian growth and its belief in nurturing resilience, introspection, and authenticity in youth.
Key Programs and Initiatives
To bring these ideas into action, Jin announced four pillars of VLA’s 2025 academic plan:
Youth Growth Club，United Nations Program, Featured Courses, and Youth Think Tank.
1. Youth Growth Club
The weekly Youth Growth Club embodies the spirit of “using humanism to counter AI-era anxiety.” In 2025, it transitions into a membership-based series held every Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., with at least 35 sessions annually across four modules:
Global Issues Analysis: Youth-led discussions on timely topics such as “Humanity in the AI Era” (September) and “The History of Middle Eastern Wars” (October).
Classics Reading: Guided by Scarlet Jin through in-depth readings of works like Homo Deus, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Long Walk to Freedom, and The Weakness of Human Nature in the AI Age.
Thematic Research: Youth Committee-led investigations into subjects such as “Identity and Belonging among Chinese-Canadian Teens.”
Philanthropic Practice: VLA members participate in charitable projects—such as UNICEF campaigns and Haiti child-relief initiatives—and earn public service certificates recognizing their contributions.
Jin, a graduate of Peking University with a master’s in public administration, brings nearly two decades of global research and think-tank experience. Since settling in Toronto in 2024, she has led 28 Growth Forum sessions that have earned enthusiastic feedback from both parents and students.
2. Engaged with UN
The Engaged with UN project extends the international dimension of the Youth Growth Club. Unlike conventional “UN tours,” VLA collaborates with many NGOs globally to enable youth to participate in parallel UN meetings as contributors presenting real research findings—allowing them to truly enter global dialogues rather than merely visit them.
3. Featured Courses
VLA’s signature courses target youth aged 8–16, co-developed by parents and students. Through open discussions, the community identifies individual interests and educational goals, fostering a collaborative ecosystem of “shared knowledge and resources.”
a. Technology and Humanities Integration
Vice Chair Yewen He emphasized the importance of nurturing both “the heart and the intellect.” Drawing on her own experience as a data professional and parent, she introduced VLA’s Information and Data Literacy series, which translates university-level concepts into youth-friendly learning.
Course Highlights:
AI and Robotics (Instructor: Borui Li, George Brown College):
Covers the evolution of AI, brain-computer interfaces, and ethical challenges at the frontier of robotics and automation. Advanced modules will later offer university-level lab experience.Data Analysis & Visualization (Instructor: Yewen He(Alissa), Beijing):
A pioneer in China’s data industry and author of bestselling Tableau books, She teaches data analysis concepts, case studies, and hands-on Tableau dashboard design. The course aligns with Canadian Data Management and Statistics curricula and prepares students for international Tableau Analyst certification.
All courses are bilingual (English–Chinese) and combine technical learning with global terminology awareness. Video samples are available on the VLA YouTube channel.
b. Extended Learning Resource Pool
Gao Wei, Operations Director at Hanson Education, introduced the Hanson Scholars Network, which connects mentors from top universities—such as Harvard Medical School and the University of Toronto—with VLA members for IB/AP tutoring, essay writing, business competitions, and leadership coaching.
Freya Lu, a Hanson instructor, presented the “Speech, Logic, and Expression” course and focused on business school application, based on Harvard case methods, helping youth move “from silent to expressive” and cultivate entrepreneurial confidence.
Pu Guangbiao, Operations Director at Erindale Academy, shared the AI and Business Innovation program, open to students aged 10 and above. It integrates Python programming, data science, and entrepreneurship, and offers certificates recognized by Harvard and Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credit.
4. Youth Think Tank
Youth Committee Chair Puyu Liu(Celine) presented the committee’s core work through a bilingual speech blending personal reflection and policy thinking. The committee’s four pillars include:
Youth Think Tank: Youth-led research on social issues and proposed solutions.
Independent Research: Ongoing studies like “Social Integration of New Chinese Immigrant Youth in Canada.”
Monthly Discussions: September focuses on Haiti’s Future, and October on The Five Arab–Israeli Wars.
International Youth Think Tank Forum: An annual global youth dialogue on emerging world issues.
Celine shared her personal journey:
“We are cultural bridge builders. Growth is not about competing with others, but with who we were yesterday.”
She recounted her initial confusion after arriving in Canada—“sitting all afternoon not knowing what to do”—and how VLA helped her rediscover purpose through exploration and community.Messages from Advisors, Parents, and Students
1. Advisors: Education as Awakening
Fenghua Mu, Director of Youth Voice Media Center, drew on her own immigrant experience since 2008, emphasizing that “education is not indoctrination but awakening potential.” She pledged continued support for VLA’s mission to help youth develop inner value systems in the AI era.
2. Parents: VLA as ‘A Light in Our Lives’
Echo Wang, VLA Secretary-General and parent representative, described her son’s transformation—from a quiet child to one who now discusses quantum physics from A Brief History of Time, builds Tableau dashboards on “pet ownership decisions,” and participates in Haiti fundraising drives.
“VLA is not an institution but a community where children are seen, encouraged, and reawakened,” she said.
3. Students: ‘A Warm Family of Growth’
David called the Growth Forum “a warm family” where he learned collaboration, empathy, and perseverance.
Rita shared how she overcame self-doubt as a new immigrant, moving from silence to performing in dance and media interviews; now she serves as a youth photographer documenting events.
Marilyn reflected on the sense of responsibility and belonging she developed through 28 sessions.
Charles (speech read by Michael) spoke from Japan, recalling how VLA’s early forums helped him adapt to a new environment and discover leadership through organizing events.
Interactive Dialogue and Future Outlook
In the closing session, parents and students engaged in open discussions with VLA mentors, Hanson educators, and Erindale representatives about membership, course enrollment, and research participation. Many families signed up on the spot.
The event marked not only the start of VLA’s 2025 academic year but also a shared reflection on the future of education. As Jin Lu concluded:
“AI can replace many tasks, but it can never replace the vitality and emotional connection of human beings.”
VLA will continue to cultivate “humanity as the root, interdisciplinarity as the bridge, and youth as the core,” guiding young people to grow into thoughtful, responsible individuals in an era of rapid change.
About Voice Linking Association (VLA)
Founded in Toronto, Voice Linking Association (VLA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth for the future. It provides an innovative platform for exploration, interaction, and awakening—redefining the meaning of education in the AI era.
VLA helps the next generation develop clear judgment, creative thinking, and a global perspective amid technological transformation. Its mission is to transform education from mere knowledge transmission into a journey of self-discovery and purpose, helping every learner find their unique value and meaning.
“Treat the world as your classroom, and grow through action.”
Join VLA to unlock the true power of learning in the AI age.
（Videos of Opening Ceremony have been uploaded to YouTube, please click the YouTube button to view more）
Contact:
Echo Wang
✉️ voicelinkingassociation@gmail.com
📞 +1-647-567-6816
