The moving strains of “You Raise Me Up” filled a room at Shenzhen Daily’s office in Futian District on October 18, 2026, as Chinese and international friends gathered to honour the memory of Francis Kwesi Hagan, a Ghanaian teacher and dedicated volunteer who devoted years of his life to helping others in Shenzhen, southern China’s technology hub.
Hagan died of illness in Ghana on October 1, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of kindness that continues to inspire the city’s volunteer community.
For many in Shenzhen, Hagan’s compassion became widely known through a video filmed in June 2023. Following heavy rain, a delivery rider fell off his electric bike outside Bao’an Stadium Metro Station. Hagan, wearing his signature red volunteer vest, immediately rushed to help. The video went viral on Chinese social media, garnering more than 100,000 likes.
For those who knew him personally, however, the incident was simply a reflection of how he lived his everyday life.
“He was always there for everybody, with good advice, ready to help, ready to offer his time to others,” said Sava Tomoiaga, a Romanian who first met Hagan in 2004 when they were both teaching at Shenzhen Bao’an China-UK College. The two worked together for 10 years.
“His passion for volunteering was contagious,” she added, recalling how he encouraged colleagues to participate in community activities and brought people together in the spirit of helping others.
Hagan arrived in Shenzhen in 2004 and registered as a local volunteer in 2007. Over the years, his service spanned environmental protection, recycling education, cultural exchange, activities for older adults and major public events, including the 2011 World University Games. He also helped foreign residents navigate public services and regularly assisted people facing everyday challenges.
In May 2020, Hagan became head of the Bao’an International Youth Volunteer Service Station, commonly known as a U-station, making history as the first foreign national to lead a volunteer service station in Shenzhen.
He went on to help establish an international youth volunteer team that brought together around 50 young people from more than 10 countries and regions, including Russia, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom.
“Volunteers have no nationality, and helping others needs no reason,” said Wang Bing, deputy head of the Bao’an Stadium U-station, recalling Hagan’s words when recruiting international volunteers.
Shenzhen’s U-stations provide information and assistance to residents and visitors in public spaces and at major events. The city now has more than 4.2 million registered volunteers, including around 27,000 foreign volunteers, reflecting the growing involvement of international residents in community service.
Teodora Pesic, a Serbian artist and longtime Shenzhen resident, remembered Hagan as a polite and caring gentleman, affectionately known among friends as “Papa Ghana.”
“He was like a protective gentleman,” she recalled, adding that his example inspired her to become involved in volunteering in Shenzhen. Pesic now volunteers in Futian District.
Beyond his community service, Hagan also played a role in sharing Shenzhen’s stories with international audiences through his work as a Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassador, a programme operated by Shenzhen Daily.
In 2024, he returned to Ghana to visit the Sunon Asogli Power Plant, a project invested in and operated by Shenzhen Energy Group, helping bring the story of China-Africa cooperation to a wider audience.
His sister, Dorcas Nkrumah, said Hagan regarded Shenzhen as his second home and had hoped to build a bridge between the people of China and Ghana.
At the memorial gathering, friends remembered not only his remarkable contributions to the community but also the warmth, generosity and compassion he brought to everyday encounters.
As Hagan once wrote on social media, “In Shenzhen, you can become a beautiful heart.”
His words now carry an enduring significance. Though he is no longer among them, his legacy lives on through the volunteers he inspired and the countless acts of kindness that continue to touch lives across the city.
