What does BRICS cooperation mean to a young person? For Anna Yuschenko, a student at Tsinghua University, the journey from Russia to China and then to Brazil offered a firsthand perspective on what BRICS cooperation can mean beyond official meetings and economic projects. Through cross-border learning, youth exchange and community engagement, she saw how seemingly ordinary experiences can bring young people from different countries closer together. For her, BRICS cooperation is not confined to summits – it can also take shape through the meaningful participation of young people.