WorldSkills Champions connect with Croatian school children

WorldSkills General Assembly 2025 extended its reach to the youth of Dubrovnik, with a skills promotion event organized on 15 October. Eleven schools from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County gathered for an inspirational afternoon discovering new professions and learning from the experiences of the WorldSkills Champions Trust.

As the students entered Studentski centar Dubrovnik – a large public student centre – they were met with 11 Try-a-Skills stands. Children from elementary schools could try a wide range of skills including Patisserie, Cooking and Bartending, Business Administration, Web Design, Sales, Sailing, 3D Printing, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hairdressing and Beauty Treatments, Nursing and Health Care. On the stage, Champions Trust representatives shared their diverse stories, reflecting on the power of vocational education and the transformative journey towards the Competition.

“Today I want to share with you a true story of a successful young boy whose journey was not easy, but through hard work, determination, and passion, he found his way to success,” started Mihle Mvelakubi, representative for Africa, as he told his story of perseverance and determination.

“Don’t just aim to do well, aim to inspire others too!” he concluded. “Keep working hard, stay brave, and show the world what you’re made of. You’ve got skills, passion, and the power to make a difference in this world. Let’s go out there and make things happen.”

Mihle was accompanied by other representatives of the WorldSkills Champions Trust, delivering a global picture of the experiences of skilled young people across the world. Their stories demonstrated how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can lead to professional success, personal growth, international exposure, entrepreneurship, and community impact.

Jingyi Lu, from China and representative for Asia, explained how frustrated she felt when she didn’t get into the high school she had dreamed of.

“In China, a lot of parents tell their children that only a diploma leads to success. But my teacher suggested that I could still have a good life in the skilled trades. He said, ‘There are masters in every walk of life.’ So I took the advice and enrolled in environmental protection at Henan Chemical Technician College,” said Jingyi, as she explained how she discovered she loved chemistry and her journey to winning gold in Chemical Laboratory Technology at WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

“Skills give you more than a job – they give you pride, purpose, and power to change your life. Whether you’re in a lab, a workshop, or a tech company—skills make things happen,” she emphasized.

Between each of the WorldSkills Champions Trust interventions, there were different fun activations – such as quizzes, video projections, and challenges – leaving a lasting impression on the 600 students, parents, and educators of Dubrovnik-Neretva County who attended the event.