Teen leverages metaverse tech to connect Chinese and Saudi students

RIYADH, April 4, 2025: At just 13 years old, Chinese student Alia Kong is leading an initiative that leverages technology to introduce Saudi culture to her peers in Hong Kong.

With the goal of creating an open platform for international students to connect, the Superbund Alpha Project enables users to create virtual avatars in the metaverse.

Students in both countries will have the opportunity to craft personalized spaces and share their cultures through virtual workshops, with Kong hoping it will strengthen connections between them.

“I (would) like to create that connection between Riyadh and Hong Kong,” Kong told Arab News. “Imagine if you can create your own cultural heritage and enhance it with spatial computing, using just prompts and images.”

As part of the project, she has designed an immersive experience to showcase Saudi culture to her classmates.

Kong’s journey began five years ago, at age eight, when she and 25 friends launched a non-profit called Kids Power Society. The group’s mission was to educate students about different cultures, support mental wellness, and promote positivity.

Now, the teenager plans to host the Superbund Event Day, which will take place simultaneously in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, both virtually and in person.

Kong emphasized the importance of embracing emerging technologies, stating that Generation Alpha can envision their ideal lifestyle through the metaverse.

Her admiration for Saudi Arabia stems from stories shared by her godfather, Alaudeen Alaskary, the former consul-general of Saudi Arabia in Hong Kong, who now serves as the honorary advisor to the Superbund Virtual Exchange Program.

Kong, who has visited the Kingdom, plans to organize a student trip to teach her peers about Saudi cultural history.

“He (Alaskary) showed me the culture and lifestyle of Saudi Arabians. I love attending his Saturday gatherings and parties. (They are) very warm, loving, and we all enjoy each other’s company,” she said.

In July 2024, the group will host the Superbund Virtual Society, a virtual event with over 100 expected attendees from Hong Kong, mainland China, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.

“This new ecosystem, built on blockchain technology, will allow us to register our digital assets with our avatar identities... things can be created virtually and make an impact in reality,” said Kong.

“I have a concept where the older generation creates the hardware for technology, or the hardware we need to access the software created by younger generations. Once the content, software, and hardware are finalized, we can bridge that generation gap together.”

Over the past five years, Kids Power Society has published four science fiction books, with contributions from 125 children worldwide. The proceeds were donated to British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver and Hong Kong’s Sowers Action.