How it all started
Sea Dragons Gavel Club was founded in late 2025 by a group of high school students at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour. The club was led by founder Bruce Yu, who was a high school sophomore at the time. Bruce visited Yale University in the summer of 2025, and he was struck by the confidence and enthusiasm of Yale students. Back then, he had been thinking about how to empower students in China to become as confident, passionate, and engaged in their communities as the students he met at Yale. The solution eventually came with a simple yet thought-provoking question after he participated in a Toastmasters Club meeting: “How can I let my schoolmates experience what I just did?” Drawing from his experiences with Toastmasters, he introduced the Gavel Club method of learning. He then led the club alongside other student leaders. The club’s goal was to provide differentiated education in communication and leadership, tailored to students’ needs, while fostering a collaborative community built on warmth and inclusiveness.
The first meeting of Sea Dragons Gavel Club took place in a residential area near the school, with five charter members. The club quickly expanded. It collaborated with other Gavel Clubs in China and helped four student groups charter their own Gavel Clubs at their schools. It also built partnerships with clubs worldwide, including those in the United States and Canada. Together, the clubs organized a variety of online educational sessions and speech contests. They also provided mutual support to benefit members across borders. Additionally, the club partnered with local TEDx, local Rotary Clubs, Erika’s Lighthouse, and other organizations to offer service-learning, mental health, and educational opportunities. Today, Sea Dragons Gavel Club stands as one of the most mature and experienced student-led education and community service hubs for students in China. Its kindness, community impact, and student leadership have been recognized by Toastmaster Magazine, Channel Kindness, Bold Journey Magazine, and other media outlets.
Our Timeline
July 4, 2025
Campus Tour at Yale University
Bruce Yu visited Yale University during the summer of 2025. Observing the confidence of Yale students, he was prompted to ask: Why do many Chinese students struggle to confidently express themselves in English despite early exposure? And, why do they lack a strong sense of community and inclusiveness? Bruce Yu concluded that the answers lie in the limited access to differentiated education suited to their needs and a lack of opportunities to experience the warmth and purpose of a supportive community.
July 30, 2025
First Introduction to Toastmasters
Everything began with a fortunate opportunity. Bruce Yu was invited by his friend Rocky to attend a meeting of the SheKou IMAGINE Toastmasters Club in Shenzhen, China. He was deeply inspired by the passion and the inclusive nature of Toastmasters’ advanced collaborative learning. A question arose in his mind: “How can I offer my schoolmates a similar, never-before-imagined experience?”
July 31, 2025 – August 16, 2025
Exploring Toastmasters in Shenzhen
With the support of Andy Zhou, the president of SheKou IMAGINE Toastmasters Club at the time, Bruce Yu visited several Toastmasters clubs in Shenzhen, including SHIP Toastmasters Club, K.I.S.S. Toastmasters Club, and PRO Toastmasters Club. His goal was to learn from these clubs and refine the concept of the type of club he wanted to bring back to school.
August 28, 2025
Chartering of Sea Dragons Gavel Club
After returning to school, Bruce Yu shared his Toastmasters experience with several schoolmates across different grades, emphasizing how a Gavel Club could offer both differentiated communication and leadership education, while fostering a warm, collaborative community. Following numerous discussions in the school library, Sea Dragons Gavel Club was chartered as an affiliate of Toastmasters International by co-founders Bruce Yu, Dylan Guo, Kevin Liu, and Robin Wang.
September 1, 2025
First Club Meeting
The first club meeting took place two days after the club’s chartering. With five students in attendance and the support of Toastmaster Andy Zhou, the inaugural meeting was successfully held.
December 22, 2025
Visit to Rotary District 3450 HQ
The club leaders visited the Rotary International District 3450 Headquarters in Hong Kong to share their passion for providing students with a stable platform for community service and lasting fellowship after learning about the Tosatmasters International and Rotary International aliiance in October.
December 28, 2025
Partnering with Rotary Club of Shenzhen
Sea Dragons Gavel Club partnered with the Rotary Club of Shenzhen to bring community service opportunities to more students and provide a platform for students to apply the communication and leadership skills they learn in real-world settings. Students are free to join any of the service projects hosted by the Rotary Club of Shenzhen.
January 14, 2026
Affiliate with Erika’s Lighthouse
Sea Dragons Gavel Club has also become an Erika’s Lighthouse Empowerment affiliate club. In China, where students face intense academic competition, many experience mental health challenges due to stress. Working with Erika’s Lighthouse, the club raises awareness about mental health and depression while hosting activities that promote a positive school culture.
February 8, 2026 – February 10, 2026
Honoring the Founder’s Legacy
Sea Dragons Gavel Club donated 209.48 US dollars to the Toastmasters International’s Ralph C. Smedley Memorial Fund and purchased the 100 US dollars Toastmasters 2025 Convention On Demand during Toastmasters founder Ralph C. Smedley’s birthday month in support of Toastmasters International, helping to carry forward his legacy and transform more lives.
May 15, 2026 – May 17, 2026
Guang-Fo Conference Support
Sea Dragons Gavel Club sponsored 298 CNY to Toastmasters International District 118’s annual event, the Guang-Fo Conference 2026. The conference took place in Foshan, China, with 700+ people from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanning, Guiyang, etc joining, including Toastmasters International’s Past International President Matt Kinsey as the keynote speaker.