What comes to mind when you hear about Global Community Day? 

The diverse array of international cuisine, 

The exotic dances from around the world, 

Or perhaps the fun and exciting games? 

At YWIES Beijing, this day was celebrated in a unique way... 

YWIES Beijing takes great pride in hosting its annual Global Community Day, an event that celebrates the spirit of collaboration and innovation among students who are passionate about making a positive impact on the world. The aim of the event is to provide a platform for students from all grades to present their solutions to world problems based on sustainable development goals (SDGs). This theme was to empowering students to take an active role in building a sustainable future. 

The event marked the culmination of a project-based learning experience where students had been working hard to come up with meaningful ways to address pressing issues facing humanity. Through in-depth research, brainstorming, and testing their ideas, each class selected a specific problem to solve related to the SDGs. The Primary students chose issues such as poverty, animal protection, and mental health, while the Secondary students chose issues such as food shortages, homelessness, gender equality, and global warming etc. The students then embarked on a journey of exploration and experimentation, guided by their teachers, to develop effective solutions that could make a real difference in the world. 

On the day of the event, the students had the opportunity to showcase their work via different mediums, including posters, presentations, and interactive exhibits. The audience comprised teachers, parents, and classmates who were eager to learn about the students' ideas and provided valuable feedback. For Primary parents, some were busy calculating project data with their children using mathematical knowledge, some were surprised that their children had learned how to make PowerPoints, and some were embarrassed to admit they were stumped by questions raised by their children. As for Secondary parents, they tried their best to follow their children's thoughts and marvelled at the English and Chinese experimental reports and highly persuasive explanations produced by them. It was inspiring to see how much effort the students put into their projects and how they demonstrated creativity and critical thinking skills in addressing complex issues. 

Ms Ye, the Chinese Co-Principal, said, "What touched me the most was the topic research on gender equality and women's rights by G8 students. Women's rights are a hot topic nowadays. I was very curious about how our students would approach this issue. Yvette in G8 presented an art piece that depicted a 'heart bound by iron chains blooming with roses.' She wanted to express how the voices of women have been restricted and imprisoned throughout human history. She also wrote a poem for this piece, which was broad in scope covering ancient and modern times from both the East and West, and every word was sincere, shaping a powerful and beautiful image of women. I saw a child's delicate and sensitive perception and creativity in her work. I told her that women are as soft as the heart, but provide survival for the body, and they are great. Your work is also delicate yet tense, touching." 

Through this collaborative effort, YWIES Beijing showed its commitment to contributing to the global vision of sustainability and social responsibility. By engaging in rigorous, real-world projects, the students are developing the essential skills and knowledge necessary to become responsible global citizens. In addition, the students created a collaborative atmosphere unique to a learning community when sharing their perspectives and experiences. 

In conclusion, the Global Community Day was an uplifting and insightful experience for everyone involved. It was a testament to the power of youth to create change, and we look forward to witnessing how the innovative and creative solutions presented by YWIES Beijing students will contribute to the future of our planet.