The Dalang Experimental School comprises elementary and middle schools for the children of migrant workers in Dalang New District. On June 8, they held a festival for their 30+ clubs, which range from art to karate and debate. The point, of course, is simple: at school in their uniforms painting, dancing, and helping each other, they look like every other young Shenzhener because they ARE just like the Shenzhen Middle School students we are working with at the Handshake for the Future exhibition. Well, except for access to high school, which is regulated through the upcoming High School Entrance exam (for a point by point on why in Shenzhen this exam is more important than the college entrance exam).
Two weekends ago, Handshake 302 collaborated with Dalang New District on the Graffiti Festival (the amazing stair mural at the Youth Dream Center). We also worked with the Experimental School to bring murals and graffiti into the schoolyard. Young Mr. Ye, a second generation Shenzhener via Gangxia, organized the event through the art club. Students started on designs early. For the festival, the club asked groups of students to submit a design proposal, 17 groups from both the elementary and middle schools made the cut.
Impressions of the festival, below, and yes, many, many pictures of kids being great:
Shenzhen Noted 
nice to see the kids playing, is there an illegal tagging/graffiti culture in yer part of the world?
There are several seen but not acknowledged sites, and throughout the city there is graffiti. The graffiti tends to be small (unless at one of the sites) because every organization hires ever vigilant security guards who interpret the laws based on what their employers tell them to do. This means that even with permission, we need to coordinate with private security guards before starting a project. Otherwise, we just spend our time explaining… Upside, if a company or institution wants you to paint the sidewalk in front of their offices, you don’t actually have to coordinate with the policy or city management bureau…
thanks, would imagine that the punishments for “bombing” might be rather prohibitive