Try to portray the image of a global citizen.

Becoming a global citizen begins with a sense of responsibility in every small thing we do each day – Photo: C. TRIEU

On the weekend, the 4A courtyard of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural Center was quite crowded from early morning, with people flocking to the festival organized by the Vietnam Youth Union, the Vietnam Student Union of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association, and the Junior Chamber International Vietnam (JCI Vietnam).

From my perspective, the concept of a global citizen must be linked to a sustainable mindset and a sense of responsibility.

Student PHAM NHU NGOC (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City)

Engage with and care about humanity's problems.

JCI Vietnam President Tran Phuong Ngoc Thao believes that a global citizen is not defined by how many countries they have traveled to or how many languages ​​they speak.

The core of your work lies in demonstrating the spirit of a young Vietnamese person who is always concerned about humanity's problems. Even while living in Vietnam, you are always ready to commit yourself and work alongside friends from around the world to solve global issues related to sustainable development.

"That's also why we chose the subtitle 'Beautiful Living' for this year's Global Citizen Day. Beautiful living among young people is demonstrated through actions, willpower, and a spirit of striving to bring positive values ​​to the community," Ms. Thao explained.

Mr. Tran Phuoc Dai – President of JCI East Saigon – shared that becoming a global citizen through international projects while in Vietnam is entirely possible. The condition is that these community projects must genuinely create positive and sustainable impact and value for society.

"Young people need to focus on preparing themselves with the right mindset, knowledge, communication skills, cultural understanding, and awareness of global issues in order to become global citizens," Dai suggested.

Global citizens in the eyes of young people.

Within the framework of the event, the public speaking competition "Youth Responsibility - A Mission for Sustainable Goals" shared many messages, thereby partly painting a portrait of a global citizen. Student Thach Thi Anh Nhu (University of Finance - Marketing) expressed that a global citizen must always have a responsibility connected to the future of the planet.

According to Anh Nhu, for example, protecting the environment is the responsibility of each individual through small actions, from disposing of waste properly, reducing plastic waste, planting trees, protecting water sources, and saving water. More fundamentally, it's about educating the younger generation about the activities and significance of protecting and restoring the living environment.

"A global citizen shouldn't just sit and wait for large-scale programs launched by the government aimed at environmental protection; they need a proactive mindset. Remember that every great revolution begins with small changes every day," Anh Nhu shared.

Nguyen Hoang Thien (JCI Da Nang) said that language is a necessary condition, but not essential, for a young Vietnamese person to interact and exchange information with international friends or to become a global citizen.

Another key issue is understanding global culture, how to interact and behave in interpersonal relationships. Having a global cultural understanding increases the chances of becoming a global citizen.

"For me, a global citizen needs love, because only then will there be the motivation to help, protect, and speak out on all issues. Love the people around you, love nature and the environment. Along with that, go out, contribute, and join hands with those who share the same love, and everything will naturally become better," Thien shared.

Le Van Day (JCI Da Nang) wholeheartedly agrees with the concept of a global citizen, stating that "a person lives responsibly towards the community, the planet, and the gifts of the universe." He says it's not too difficult to become a global citizen; simply thinking about the community and the Earth is enough—no one needs to grant or certify that person.

He argues that the Earth is capable of protecting itself, and that humans are the ones who need to protect their own environment. Extreme weather, global warming, and natural disasters seem to be the Earth's way of reacting and eliminating threats to itself.

"The guiding principle for a global citizen's actions is the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which focus on three main areas: eradicating poverty, protecting the planet, and promoting peace and prosperity," Mr. Day said.

Ho Chi Minh City Student Union and JCI Vietnam sign cooperation agreement.

The Ho Chi Minh City Vietnamese Student Association and JCI Vietnam jointly signed several cooperation agreements to support students in the future – Photo: C. TRIEU

At the event, the Ho Chi Minh City Student Union and JCI Vietnam (under the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association) signed a cooperation agreement covering various areas. Specifically, JCI Vietnam's team of advisors will participate in guiding and mentoring the "5 Good Students" group, representing outstanding students in Ho Chi Minh City.

This guidance focuses on three main themes: identifying the problem and setting goals for developing an action plan; solutions, resources, and implementation methods; and executing the action plan, managing risks, and resolving issues to achieve KPIs.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-khac-hoa-chan-dung-cong-dan-toan-cau-20241124093913043.htm