On 17 July, the WorldSkills Museum was filled with the vibrant energy of international exchange as the “Skills in Motion, Youth in Action” event—part of the Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp—officially kicked off. Over 140 students and teachers from 20 countries and regions explored this hall of skills, transformed from a century-old industrial site, and immersed themselves in a hands-on dialogue of craftsmanship that spans thousands of years.

The WorldSkills Museum is the world’s first museum dedicated to vocational skills. It was jointly developed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and WorldSkills International. Opened to the public in 2023, the museum showcases over 800 artifacts contributed by WorldSkills Member countries and regions across five continents, as well as WorldSkills Global Partners.

As soon as the students stepped into the exhibition zones, their curiosity was instantly sparked by four interactive installations themed around clothing, food, housing, and transportation. The installations were quickly surrounded by eager young visitors ready to try their hands. In Zone 2, Celebrating a Successful Global Movement, the 2017 Albert Vidal Award trophy drew many to stop and admire the legacy of excellence.

Following the guided tour, the students took part in a Chinese mortise-and-tenon disassembly competition.

Some students moved very quickly—raising the disassembled components high in the air even before the host finished the instructions—eliciting gasps and cheers from the crowd. “Mortise-and-tenon joints are simply ingenious. I still couldn’t put it back together even after watching the video tutorial,” said a student from Budapest, Hungary.

Participants also had the opportunity to try traditional Chinese woodblock printing, creating beautiful prints of the WorldSkills Museum emblem.

After the hands-on experiences, Chen Yifan, the Chinese Restaurant Service Competitor from the 44th WorldSkills Competition and former representative on the WorldSkills Champions Trust, gave a detailed introduction to WorldSkills and shared her personal growth journey as a Competitor.

Wrapping up her story, Chen Yifan left the students with a powerful message: “You don’t need a cape to be a hero—skilled hands can change the world.” Her words were met with thunderous applause.

The event concluded with an award ceremony, where Shawna Bourke, Director of Marketing and Communications at WorldSkills International; Cynthia Umurungi, Manager of Marketing and Communications; Deng Zhenhuan, Director of the Publicity and Education Center of the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; Du Juan, Director of the WorldSkills Museum; and Wu Changliang, General Manager of the Cultural Communication Center of Jiefang Daily, presented “Junior Skills Champion” certificates to 12 students who excelled in the mortise-and-tenon challenge and 8 winners of the WorldSkills knowledge quiz. Shawna Bourke emphasized the significance of the event, stating that it meaningfully deepened the friendships and exchanges among youth from around the world through the power of skills.

As the young voices from different nations united under the museum’s dome to chant “Master Skills, Change Your Future,” the echoes of youthful energy of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 resonated through the air.

The “Skills in Motion, Youth in Action” event was part of the World Youth Skills Day celebrations on 15 July, co-hosted by the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau, the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Shanghai Youth Federation, with support from the WorldSkills Museum.