This year’s event was set against the background story of a newsroom. Participants took on the role of reporters, investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young man.

The gathering kicked off with a series of ice-breaker games and team-building activities, preparing participants for the challenges ahead. Throughout the day, there were different tasks designed to help people learn how to be responsible media users in the digital age. They also explored how technology can be used to drive positive social change. Each group worked together to gather clues, crack codes, and tackle the barriers, ultimately helping to find the young man.

Fr. Domingos Leong, Provincial of the China Province, addressed the participants during the prayer session. He explained that the event was named “De Sales News” in honour of St. Francis de Sales, a figure chosen by St. John Bosco over a century ago as an example for the Salesian family. St. Francis de Sales was an early advocate of using the newly invented printing press to spread the truth. Today, as we live in the digital world, we must also learn to use this platform to spread hope and truth. Fr. Domingos emphasized that every young person has a responsibility to share positive messages, especially online. When facing challenges, we should become a light and hope for others.

At the end of the event, Fr. Anthony Pun, Coordinator of the Salesian Youth Movement of the Province, explained this year’s souvenir — a glowing keycap keychain. This gift symbolizes that every time the key in the real keyboard is pressed, a hope is passed on to those around us. The keychain represents how each young person can become a messenger of hope, spreading the light of positivity and truth to their lives and society.

The event ended with prayer and laughter, and the participants made a pledge to be more mindful of online scams, verify information sources, share and promote positive messages, correct false information, avoid maliciously searching and forwarding personal data without consent, and be cautious with online speech since it is public. Most importantly, they committed to being digital world communicators of hope.