"We hope our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation, encouraging them to carry out the virtue of cherishing food and developing the habit of thrift," said Liu Jichen, the founder and CEO of Clear Plate, an app that rewards people for reducing food waste.
Liu's entrepreneurship journey started back in 2016 when he was just a sophomore and was actively trying to address food waste. After a meal, users take photos of their plate through the app, collect points once the image is recognized by the AI, and redeem gifts or meals with the points they accumulate.
Launched in 2018, Clear Plate currently has more than 1 million users who have collectively taken 5 million anti-food wasting actions. The United Nations (UN) nominated Liu as China's first Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Liu's story is just one among the numerous young people who are talented and creative and attempt to make greater changes to people's lives around the world.
During the 2023 World Youth Development Forum held from October 30 to November 1, international youth leaders and representatives like Liu gathered in Beijing and Shenzhen to discuss how to pool their wisdom in strengthening the facilitation of global development. The event was themed "Youth Strength for Solidarity and Innovation: Striving Together for Sustainable Development."
The holding of the World Youth Development Forum is an important initiative that Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the High-level Dialogue on Global Development on June 24, 2022. The event is also of significance to facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Some 100 projects related to the global youth development action plan were released at the forum. These projects, which were selected from 43 countries around the globe, center on topics such as food security, digital technology application, and poverty and hunger elimination. What needs to be mentioned is that the leaders' average age of these projects is 29.
Four thematic forums were held during the forum, including themes of digital development, youth development-oriented cities, response to climate and food crisis and cultural innovation. Multiple outcomes were achieved at the thematic forums, such as the launch of Young Digital Leaders Training Program. The young delegates also shared their experiences and opinions during the discussion.
"We talked about fintech. We talked about leadership. You have such amazing leadership with President Xi Jinping. He is an inspiration to many Chinese. And we also borrow from him. We want to make sure that as an African, also in the world, youth can have the right attitude toward solving global challenges," said the young delegate Hussein Saddam Kizza.
"It's an incredible opportunity for people of all countries, 43 countries, to participate the forum. It's very important for the development of youth in every continent. We're so proud to be part of the moment in China," said Camila Paz Moraga Munoz, an attendee.
(Cover: The logo and theme of the 2023 World Youth Development Forum, Beijing, October 30, 2023. /CFP)