In September 2018, Juntong and Xiang participated in the Special Olympics Global Youth Leadership Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan and learned how to enhance the impact of their youth leadership and establish a project plan for their inclusive initiative.

Juntong and Xiang’s project aims to not only grow Special Olympics Unified Sports, but to also bring the fun, energy, and inclusive spirit of music to Special Olympics. At the Youth Leadership Forum, Juntong and Xiang saw many other youth-led projects that involved sports and leadership development. And while their project does combine sports and leadership, Juntong and Xiang will also incorporate a new artistic element to engage people with and without intellectual disabilities. To bring attention and support to Special Olympics in China, Juntong and Xiang’s project will create opportunities for youth with and without intellectual disability to learn and perform music and dance together.

Juntong and Xiang believe that “music opens up other opportunities for people with disabilities and is a new and creative way to bring people with and without intellectual disabilities together.” By promoting music and other innovative ways to bring people together, Juntong and Xiang’s leadership is growing the Unified Generation in China and around the world.