William Zhou (China, Global STEM Academies ‘25) joined the AFS Global STEM Academies with great eagerness of learning about sustainability and connecting with other young changemakers from around the world. Through AFS, William gained not only a global network of peers but also the practical tools needed to turn ideas into action, fundamentally transforming how he viewed his role in creating positive change.
During the program, William completed two capstone projects using design thinking and social innovation, identifying challenges and developing solutions to create meaningful impact. His experience helped him evolve from what he describes as “a passive student who observed the world” into an active entrepreneur who’s determined to address global issues.
William recognized a challenge facing many youth-led sustainability initiatives: even as awareness about environmental struggles continues to grow, opportunities to turn that awareness into impactful action remain limited. In response, William founded The Evergreen Action (TEA), a youth-led initiative dedicated to empowering young people to develop and scale global sustainability solutions.
Building on this vision, William launched the 2026 U20+ Evergreen Challenge in collaboration with the Global Climate Academy (GCA) of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Prosperity Alliance, and Shanghai Climate Week. This challenge was designed as a global incubator and impact amplifier for sustainability innovation, and provides young participants with the opportunity to receive mentorship, showcase their ideas in international hubs, and use a digital trust record to track project contributions called the “Climate Passport”, joining a lifelong network of sustainability changemakers.
In the first incubation stage, William has successfully organized three online workshops with more than 90 total participants from China and around the world, as well as a two-day in-person summit with expert-led panels and a project fair. He will also participate in this year’s London Climate Week, hosted by E3G (Third Generation Environmentalism), an independent climate change think tank.
For William, this initiative represents a direct continuation of the active global citizenship and changemaking skills he developed with AFS. His enhanced global perspective has helped him envision a platform capable of bringing together young innovators across the globe to collaborate on shared environmental challenges.
“AFS provided me with the global vision necessary to build a platform that now empowers other youths to turn their raw ideas into grounded realities,” William shares. “I am infinitely grateful to AFS for planting that seed of global citizenship, and I am committed to paying it forward by helping the next generation of sustainability architects in shaping our shared future.”
Today, William continues his journey, expanding The Evergreen Action while encouraging young people around the world to move beyond awareness of critical issues and step into collaborative action. His story demonstrates how skills, insights and relationships built through AFS can inspire alumni to create opportunities for others and exponentially multiply their impact for years to come.
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