Students present their ideas at the 2025 Movers Co-Creation Camp held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University from Jan 18 to 19. [Photo by YE CHEN/FOR CHINA DAILY]
Imagine a world where poverty is a distant memory, women enjoy equal rights in the workforce, and clean energy is accessible to all — these are the ideals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From Jan 18 to 19, the 2025 Movers Co-Creation Camp was held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), co-organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the goal of engaging more young people with the SDGs.
During the two-day camp, 30 university students gathered to exchange ideas for a better, more equitable future.
Divided into six groups, the students worked with UNDP experts to explore the impact of the SDGs on their daily lives, climate action, and entrepreneurship.
Yang Peijie, 23, a student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Yang Peijie, a 23-year-old graduate in transportation engineering from SJTU, gained a deeper understanding of the fifth SDG — gender equality — through in-depth discussions with his group mates and instructors during the workshop.
He shared that women face income disparities, promotion barriers, and unequal career opportunities across various sectors. "I've learned from our discussions that these issues are not limited to low-income countries, but also persist in some developed nations," he said.
According to Yang, promoting gender equality requires changes in both institutional frameworks and societal attitudes, with even small steps making a meaningful difference.
"In recent years, China has witnessed significant shifts in gender attitudes," he added. "As a 'mover', I will continue to work on breaking down gender role stereotypes, promoting equal employment opportunities, and helping to mainstream the concept of equality in China."
Climate change is also a critical global issue. It is the 13th SDG and was a key topic during the workshop at the camp.
Chen Haojun, 22, a student at Fudan University. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Chen Haojun, a 22-year-old student at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai, who has been raised with a strong sense of environmental responsibility, emphasized the importance of justice in addressing climate change.
"Certain problems, such as greenhouse gas emissions, were caused by more than one country, which is why effective climate governance cannot be achieved by any single nation alone," he said. "It requires the full cooperation of all countries."
He also highlighted China's efforts in promoting green development, citing its goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality before 2060, which demonstrates China's commitment to climate action.
"To achieve the global climate goal, we must maintain an international perspective. This means focusing on domestic development while also considering the challenges faced by other countries," Chen said.
Building connections
During the event, the young participants not only gained a deeper understanding of the SDGs but also explored the power of communication.
Nazikai Zhumabieke, a 20-year-old Kazak student from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region studying at SJTU, shared her experience.
"Unlike workshops I've attended before, where participants sat in rows while experts commented on academic articles, the Movers Co-Creation Camp brought us together around a table, allowing everyone to speak," she said.
Zhumabieke, an administrative management major, believes this camp provides an excellent platform for cross-discipline and cross-professional collaboration, unlocking more possibilities for solutions.
"During the entrepreneurship-focused workshop, for example, as we worked on optimizing our sales plan, I contributed my ideas from an administrative perspective, while other group members brought insights from their economics background. It made me realize that no discipline operates in isolation — there are many intersections," Zhumabieke explained.
Chu Yunyi, a 22-year-old student at SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology and president of the department's student union, is known for his excellent communication skills. Still, he learned something new at the camp: the importance of accepting differences in global governance.
"Effective communication in cooperation should involve acknowledging our differences first. It's not just about delivering our own messages unilaterally but also about understanding others' perspectives," he said.
Yang agreed, emphasizing that communication is essential for bridging gaps in international contexts.
"Leadership is not about authority. It's about the ability to empower others to participate in collaboration and harmonize differences to develop practical and actionable solutions to problems," he said.
Zhang Xunyin, a 23-year-old student majoring in international organizations and international exchange at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, was inspired by the program's mission to ensure that no one is left behind.
She explained that while globalization and technological advancements have brought prosperity and progress, developing countries — especially low- and middle-income nations — still face challenges such as resource scarcity and technological delays.
This is why Chen wants to encourage more young people to join the camp and take action for a brighter future for all.
"We are global citizens; we should act like one and take pride in it," he said.
