Last night, 1,400 Competitors walked into the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center to resounding cheers and a sea of flags, full of pride to be representing their countries and regions. Today, these young people begin their test projects.
Uganda’s competitors who include Paul Terran Lugobe (Cooking); Elizabeth Mirabel Mutoro (Welding); and Flavia Nakaayi (Health and Social Care) are on this global stage for skills to prove that Ugandan skills match international standards.
As they get underway, the words of Leyla Valiyeva, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Middle East & North Africa, still echo from the last night’s opening ceremony.
In her speech, she said, “What you learn on your journey, how to prepare, how to hold steady under pressure, how to rise after you fall, that is what stays with you. Every new mountain you face, you will approach the same way you conquered this one – confidence in yourself and bravery in your step. We are proof that when you find your skilled path, it leads to purpose.”
The atmosphere in the NECC halls is electric, as the countdown clocks start and work in all 64 skill competition workshops begins.
Seven new skills debut this week: Dental Prosthetics, Digital Media Interactive Design, Intelligent Security Technology, Rail Vehicle Technology, Retail Sales, Software Testing, and Unmanned Aerial Systems.
On the sidelines, supporters, friends, and family share words of encouragement as each Competitor put months and years of hard work into action. Members of the WorldSkills Champions Trust are also out on the Competition floor, taking in the atmosphere and reporting back for WorldSkills.
David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, was blown away by the passion that he saw across the NECC. He said, “Our Competitors may be going head-to-head with their peers from around the world, but there was a great sense of unity in the NECC today. Everyone here wants to do their best and rise to the top, yet they also all believe in the power of skills to create a more secure and sustainable world. Individually, these young people are impressive, together they are unstoppable!”
