by Nisha Paul

• International Cultural Youth Festival hosted by YOOFU
• Grenada debuted at event showcasing products and investment opportunities
• Only Caribbean country represented at this year’s festival

Grenada’s culture and creative spirit were proudly represented at the 2025 International Cultural Youth Festival, held over the weekend at Jingshan Park in Beijing, China.

The event, hosted by YOOFU — an international youth cultural education company — brought together embassies, schools, and organisations from around the world to promote friendship, cultural exchange, and learning among young people.

The Embassy of Grenada in Beijing joined dozens of other countries in showcasing their national identity, offering visitors a glimpse into the island’s products, people, and investment potential.

First Secretary Grenada Embassy, Beijing, Tricia Bethel (right) shares a special moment with young girl at the event. Photo: Nisha Paul for NowGrenada

Tricia Bethel, First Secretary at the Embassy, said this year marked Grenada’s debut at the event and described the turnout as remarkable. “This year we’ve decided to participate in the International Youth Cultural Festival for the very first time, and as you can see, it’s quite a massive event. So many people have turned out today and we set up our booth so that persons can come to learn about Grenada, learn about the products, investment opportunities, and much more. In particular, this event is focused on the youth so there’s lots of young people here today and they’re pretty excited about what Grenada has to offer,” she said.

Grenada was the only Caribbean country represented at this year’s festival, which featured participation from nations such as France, Italy, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the United States.

Chad John engages youngsters at Grenada’s booth at the International Cultural Festival. Photo: Nisha Paul for NowGrenada

Long-time embassy supporter Chad John, who has lived in China for 17 years, described the festival as a meaningful experience for young visitors. “This is a very good learning experience for those kids, and it gives them that curiosity about how big the world is and what they can learn from these different countries…and they really enjoy getting the gift bags that we prepared. Inside, they have miniature flags that they can take home and show their friends or do show and tell at school. So, this experience opens the eyes of these kids, gives them a new outlook on the world and how large it is…these cultural exchanges are perfect to share a bit more about our small island at this large space,” he said.

The YOOFU International Cultural Youth Festival continues to serve as a bridge for cultural understanding — bringing together nations through music, food, art, and youthful curiosity.

Grenada’s participation highlights its ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and build international connections through creative and educational engagement.

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