Upon expanding the GMI global network, to truly achieve our mission to unite globalmoms and inspire the world with MomQ, we acknowledged the importance of slowly activating offline City Chapters anywhere within and outside of China. City Chapters Building a Global Network Upon expanding the GMI global network, to truly achieve our mission to unite globalmoms and inspire the world with MomQ, we acknowledged the importance of slowly activating offline City Chapters anywhere within and outside of China. Cultural context in which the interaction between moms and the stakeholders occurs has a significant impact on the process of community engagement and effective program implementation. Thus, we encourage leaders and volunteers within the shared geographical locations to get involved and make a difference (in moms’ and their own lives). Every chapter will be supported and guided by GMI leadership team throughout the change-makng journey. Start A Chapter Active Chapters Siena, Italy Chapter Lead | Esther, Li Yun Feng Li Yun Feng, a Naxi nationality born in China, is currently living in Italy, where she promotes and engages in international folk culture & art exchanges. She is the founder of Ming Women's Museum & Ming China-Netherlands Association for Promotion of Culture and Art. Vist https://www.mingart.nl for more information. Beijing, China Chapter Lead | Jane Li Jane Li, Founder of GlobalMoms Initiative (GMI) and GMI Women Design & Social Innovation Center, initiator and co-founder of Invest Women Network (IWN), all aim to close the gender gap through investing women and empowering mothers. Jane holds her master degree in Nonprofit Management from The University of Hong Kong (passed with Distinction, 2020), and bachelor degree in laws from Fudan University (awarded the Excellent Graduate, 2007). She is a PFP Fellow of the National Committee on US-China Relations (2023) and Program Fellow of Wealth for Wellbeing Initiative carried out by Institute for Philanthropy, Tsinghua University (2025). Before launching the GlobalMoms Initiative to empower women with children at different life stages, her past 17 years of work experience have spanned the private sector, public sector, and nonprofit sector, such as family office, HKEX listed state-owned company, international organization, national philanthropic foundation and social enterprise. Jakarta, Indonesia Chapter Lead | Sissi Li Sissi Li is an award-winning TV personality who began her broadcasting career at just 10 years old, hosting radio shows and television galas. With a passion for storytelling and human connection, she built a distinguished career with leading global media organizations, contributing to hundreds of news stories and conducting exclusive interviews with world leaders. Despite her early success in the spotlight, Sissi’s true passion has always been about connecting with people on a deeper level. That calling became even stronger when she became a mother—an experience that shifted her focus from recognition to purpose. Today, Sissi serves as a chapter leader for the Global Moms Initiative in Indonesia, working to empower women and build supportive communities around the world. She believes wholeheartedly that helping others is one of the most powerful ways to grow and heal ourselves. Tbilisi, Georgia Chapter Lead | Mari Sharashidze With an educational background in Social and Political Sciences, Mari Sharashidze has worked in non-profit organizational development in Georgia and has seen first-hand that empowering women and girls can bring transformational improvements in families, communities, and societies. She has worked in education industry for 5+ years while also volunteering for women’s empowerment and well-being in Beijing, China. She has seen the importance of people’s engagement in actions towards positive impact making. With her knowledge in partnership development, community engagement, child and youth education, strategy planning, policy advocacy and parenting, she’s here to contribute to the overall well-being of GlobalMoms. Shanghai, China Chapter Co-Lead | Sasha Chen Sasha Chen is a professional in nonprofit management with 10+ years of experience working at foundations and universities in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. She is also a researcher in impact investing and social entrepreneurship and has authored several research papers and cases in social innovation. Sasha is currently running her nonprofit organization to promote lifelong learning. As a mother of two children and the Chair of Shanghai Guangbo Institute of Further Education, she launched the MamaPro network with the support of the Shanghai Women Federation to empower working moms. Sasha holds a BA in Economics from Fudan University, an MPA in Nonprofit Management from New York University, and an MPhil in Public Policy from Hong Kong University. Shenzhen, China Chapter Lead | Selina Ma Selina Ma has worked multiple positions in the Internet field for 10+ years, including development engineer, project manager, product manager and others. At the same time, she has paid close attention to the public welfare industry and volunteer organizations, and has more than ten years of volunteer service experience, mainly in the fields of education and women. Selina graduated from Dalian University of Technology. She is a certified lecturer of positive discipline, a tutor of parent-child reading, and collaborator of a family education public welfare organization. Chapter Lead | Samtso Kyi Shangri-La, China Samtso is a mother of two and has over 10 years of experience in the NGO and social entrepreneurship field. She is dedicated to helping women and children in rural areas, and she is the founder and CEO of the Shangri-la Gyalthang Academy and the Women’s Beekeeping Initiative. She has a master's degree in Human Resource Management and is passionate about creating sustainable opportunities for people in need. Chapter Lead | Cong Chen Xi'An, China Cong Chen, Founder of "Art and Nature CAN" School & Half the Sky Bookstore Space Manager. She has been engaged in art for 12 years, advocating gender equality and environmental awareness in art activities, and practicing the concept that art comes from nature. In 2015, she worked in a public welfare organization, focusing on the development of women and children. In 2020, she collaborated with rural women and children in a public welfare project to build a nature school, and combined natural art with life education to carry out a series of activities to promote children's new understanding and changes in life in nature. Chapter Lead | Joanna Cheung Hong Kong Joanna has spent most of her professional life in leading global sports organisations, including IMG and the NBA. During this time, she witnessed first-hand how the mind can significantly impact performance and our overall well-being. This sparked her interest in exploring how mindfulness is applied in both personal and professional contexts. Committed to sharing her knowledge and skills with others, Joanna offers individual and group mindfulness coaching in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Her goal is to help individuals and groups achieve greater personal and professional well-being and live a happier, more fulfilling life. After spending her teenage years in the UK and most of her adult life in Beijing, Joanna and her family recently moved back to Hong Kong, where they now call home. Chapter Co-Lead | Elisa Zhang Wuhan, China She has been full-time mothering nearly five years, and returned to the workplace for three years, is “Robot Online”company's first female salesperson, based in Wuhan. Recently she also takes a new role as the manager of a community book club in Wuhan. her interests cover traditional incense culture, yoga etc. She hopes to rebuild neighborhood relations through gathering people togther with fun community events, such as reading, sports, art education, parenting talks and so on. Chapter Co-Lead | Emma Zhang Beijing, China Zhang Jun is the co-founder of Leadersmind Education, an internet education company committed to providing holistic development programs for school-age children. In her early career, Ms. Zhang accumulated extensive experience in the media and public relations industry, where she delivered strategic PR consulting services to multiple internationally renowned organizations and brands. Ms. Zhang has always been concerned about women’s self-growth, she is currently engaged in public welfare projects related to children and women's development. Chapter Lead | Ziwei Luo Victoria, Canada Ziwei Luo is an accomplished professional with an interdisciplinary background in cross-cultural communication, education, and media. Holding a Master’s degree in Education (Leadership Studies) and a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language, she has extensive experience working in both international and local settings. Ziwei aims to leverage her diverse expertise to drive impactful social initiatives, with a strong focus on promoting environmental sustainability and gender equity. Chapter Co-Lead | Marta Cámara Shanghai, China & Spain Marta Cámara, also known as Constanza Chesnott, is a screenwriter and fiction author with Penguin Random House, celebrated for over a decade of compelling novels that captivate readers across languages. Her works, translated into English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, bring her storytelling to diverse audiences worldwide. In addition to novels, Marta has written limited series adaptations, original screenplays, and specialized adaptations of Chinese series for foreign markets. With over 20 years as an experienced copyright lawyer, she bridges the creative and legal fields with expertise. In September 2024, Marta participated as a writer and script supervisor in the renowned 48-Hour Film Challenge in Shanghai, where her team’s short film True Artist earned seven nominations. Her passion for culture and exploration is matched by her international life experience—having lived in Taipei, Singapore, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Ecuador, Spain, and China. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Chinese, embodying a truly global perspective. Chapter Lead | Cao Xiaoqian Kuala lumpur, Malaysia Cao Xiaoqian, a mother of two, brings over 20 years of diverse experience spanning the telecommunications, automotive, education, and food and beverage sectors. Her professional journey includes roles as both a founder and an integral member of various startup teams. Currently, she serves as an instructor within the innovation and entrepreneurship center at a Malaysian University, where her responsibilities encompass fostering industry-academia collaborations and nurturing student innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors. Academically, she holds a Master's degree in Social Psychology and a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Linguistics and Trade. Chapter Lead | Xu Huimin Hangzhou, China Founder of Shuting Social Organization Service Center, "Shared Farming and Reading Space" manager, GoZeroWaste Hangzhou team leader. Having been a stay-at-home mom twice, I created a better version of myself. In the process from hesitation, helplessness to determination and courage, I got to know a lot of mothers with the similar situation. I hope to help more moms live out their true selves through mom empowerment actions. I like reading in nature, playing games, but also enjoy quiet times observing painting. Chapter Co-Lead | Salome Tsikhiseli Guangzhou, China & Georgia Salome originally comes from Georgia. Salome has been living and working in Guangzhou for eight years, promoting Georgian culture. She holds a PhD in Humanities, specializing in Sinology, and is also a philologist of English language and literature. She is an official member of the NGO “Belt and Road Georgian Business House” and serves as the Head of the Public Relations Department within the organization. Additionally, she is the founder of a cultural exchange center. Salome is also the creator of “Karabadini”, her own brand of organic skincare products. At the same time, she lectures at the International Faculty in Guangzhou. Chapter Co-Lead | Wu Qiong Shanghai, China Ms. Wu Qiong, social worker, Master of Social Service Administration, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Director, Shanghai Yixin Social Work Development Center. Director of the Minhang District Women's Business Association. She has 19 years of experience in community public service. In women's councils, women's participation in community governance, leading the team to develop, design and implement the“Her ideas” series of courses, the“Her wisdom” women's council project, the“Carnation Care” project for critically ill women, the“Anti-domestic Violence Alliance” mechanism innovation project, and the“Women's home” Empowerment Project. It combines project practice with theoretical research, participates in action research on women's issues, and actively speaks out for the protection of women's rights and interests and women's development through various platforms. Chapter Lead | Abuya E. Best Lagos, Nigeria Abuya E. Best, from Nigeria. She currently works with the Edo State Government as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Alongside her main profession, she is a passionate UI/UX designer, leading the design team at Kaku Technologies, a platform that focuses on reading, writing, and publishing books online. My skills also extend to No-code web development. One of the roles she cherishs most is her position as a volunteer facilitator at DigiGirls. There, she has the opportunity to empower Nigerian girls and women by teaching them how to build e-commerce websites, enabling them to bring their businesses online. In her spare time, she enjoys brainstorming ideas that can benefit her community and nation at large. Additionally, she has a keen interest in learning about foreign cultures. If you’d like to... Lead and develop a team of volunteers and show them how they can contribute while developing their skills Plan and coordinate GMI project-related meetings, events, and activities Communicate with stakeholders and get more moms involved Look out for ways to build collaborations to ensure effective needs response within your community Have a lot of fun in the process ...A new chapter in your life awaits! Start a new GMI chapter in your city. We offer assistance, support and mentorship throughout your journey. Apply Now Start A Chapter

The GlobalMoms Initiative, or GMI, is a nonprofit and voluntary Initiative of moms from all over the world. The objective of GMI is to support every mom as she strives to achieve physical and mental well being, as well as financial independence. Our Story Who We Are The GlobalMoms Initiative, or GMI, is a nonprofit and voluntary Initiative of moms from all over the world. The objective of GMI is to support every mom as she strives to achieve physical and mental well being, as well as financial independence. Furthermore, GMI will work to link global moms with the social, professional and financial resources they are seeking while providing ongoing assistance and encouragement. Mission Unite globalmoms and inspire the world with MomQ! Vision A new world where everyone values MomQ and every mom reaches full potential! Values Safety, Respect, Trust, Diversity, Inclusion, Infinity, Accountability and Sustainability GMI's Operation Model GMI operates as a volunteer organization, with no commercial interests. Any revenue earned will be donated to approved causes or organizations relevant to our goals, including to GMI to run its platform. Who We Serve GMI aims to reach and support moms who are underserved or under-represented, such as moms of children with disabilities, full-time moms in crisis, juggling working moms, struggling mom entrepreneurs at -1 to 1 business stages, regardless of age, geography, nationality, social status etc. MomQ MomQ is a word created by GMI, it refers to mom-power and leadership. The assumption behind GMI is that every mom has MomQ! In order to explore the characteristics consisting of MomQ, GMI has launched #MomStory100 to interview moms around the globe to share their life journey. #MomStory100 also contributes to GMI MomQ action research for generalizing critical findings to redefine Mom identity. For the detailed reseach plan, please email to info@globalmomsinitiative.com. Learn More “We face multiple challenges in our changing world, but one factor remains constant: the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to raising the next generation. By rewarding their efforts and enhancing their living conditions, we can secure a better future for all” - UN Secretary-General, 2009. We can achieve our vision by using the most effective approaches possible. To adopt the promising approaches from other organisations working with our population of focus, GMI expands its partnerships and engages a diverse range of stakeholders. This way we also avoid duplication of work. By working with other networks and coalitions, activists and influencers, community and social organisations, entrepreneurs and venture foundations, beneficiaries and research institutions, women's organisations and other trustees, we can achieve our intended impact. And our strategies will guide us there: 1. Reach as many globalmoms as possible through action pillars and a strong professional volunteer team. Facilitate moms’ networking and sharing to expand our digital and global social capital to realize the changes moms need. Develop a network of local, regional and global moms communities for change. 2. Increase moms’ self-awareness and support moms to break social stigmas through #MomStory100 to redefine mom identity and reimagine moms' possibilities; the collected MomStories will also contribute to #MomQActionResearch. 3. Support woman and mom entrepreneurs to establish their own business, break social barriers and realize career aspiration through #MomCEO100. Link relevant financial and non-financial resources to moms in crisis. 4. Engage local, regional and global partners and stakeholders in GMI’s work to adopt the promising approaches in working with our population of focus. This leads to the following types of negative impact across societies and cultures: the decline of individual well-being, loss of social cohesion, gender and economic inequality. Theory of Change Imagine a world where everyone values MomQ and every mom reaches full potential. At GMI we manage impact by Theory of Change. We incorporate new experiences, evidence, and understanding to develop the most effective approaches possible to achieve the intended impact. Taking on the mindset of a sceptic, we use pressure testing to find out where the gaps are and where further research is required. We collaborate with our stakeholders to confirm that needs of our target population haven’t been sufficiently addressed and when addressed, will lead to significant progress toward our intended impact. The given Theory of Change is our conceptual roadmap for how GMI aims to achieve its goal. The Problem “We face multiple challenges in our changing world, but one factor remains constant: the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to raising the next generation. By rewarding their efforts and enhancing their living conditions, we can secure a better future for all” - UN Secretary-General, 2009. Nearly two billion of the worlds’ population are mothers. They are not only caregivers but are also breadwinners for their families. They are individuals with their dreams and aspirations and each of them has a valuable story to share with the world. Their voices are not heard enough, especially of those underserved and underrepresented moms. They face various challenges at home, at workplaces, in personal and social settings. Their needs and problems havens’t been addressed sufficiently. This leads to the following types of negative impact across societies and cultures: the decline of individual well-being, loss of social cohesion, gender and economic inequality. We can achieve our vision by using the most effective approaches possible. To adopt the promising approaches from other organisations working with our population of focus, GMI expands its partnerships and engages a diverse range of stakeholders. This way we also avoid duplication of work. By working with other networks and coalitions, activists and influencers, community and social organisations, entrepreneurs and venture foundations, beneficiaries and research institutions, women's organisations and other trustees, we can achieve our intended impact. And our strategies will guide us there: 1. Reach as many globalmoms as possible through action pillars and a strong professional volunteer team. Facilitate moms’ networking and sharing to expand our digital and global social capital to realize the changes moms need. Develop a network of local, regional and global moms communities for change. 2. Increase moms’ self-awareness and support moms to break social stigmas through #MomStory100 to redefine mom identity and reimagine moms' possibilities; the collected MomStories will also contribute to #MomQActionResearch. 3. Support woman and mom entrepreneurs to establish their own business, break social barriers and realize career aspiration through #MomCEO100. Link relevant financial and non-financial resources to moms in crisis. 4. Engage local, regional and global partners and stakeholders in GMI’s work to adopt the promising approaches in working with our population of focus. The Solution Global Outcome GMI Theory of Change guides us towards the world where MomQ is valued and accepted across the cultures and societies, where moms are given support from local and global communities to transforms themselves , and where moms as global citizens can fully contribute to the stability, progress and long-term development of the world. Why Moms and Everyone? Everybody on earth is born and birth is given by women. If you exist, you have/had a mom. You yourself might be or may become one. Various studies aside, it’s clear that moms need support in many ways. They, like any other human beings, have their interests and hobbies, personal and professional life aspirations, dreams and goals. After becoming a mom of one two three or more children, a woman has extra workload in life, that without support from workplaces, families, and societies in general, they hardly exist, living from task to task. Their mental and physical conditions worsen, their productivity decreases, and their dreams can slowly fade away. You can see it through your mom’s story, possibly through your own story, through your friend’s story, through your colleague’s story or a neighbor’s story. Try to observe what a mom’s day looks like consciously and mindfully - ask her to tell you her story, ask her what she would do if anything was possible and what you hear may change your day or even your life. Each mom wants to and can do so much more not only for herself but also for others, it is in her nature to care more and care better. Most moms don’t speak out and don’t reach out because most of their time and energy is spent on their families and jobs. Their voices are less heard, but being a mother develops many skills, from which we all benefit. Societies should include mothers and support their well-being all we need to do is listen to what they have to say. You can contribute to moms’ well-being while enjoying the process of impact-making. Your values change, your network grows and remember that moms give back! Close Gender Gap for Moms and Everyone, with and through GMI. Become A Volunteer

Design services and education empowering socially conscious women & mom designers across a range of disciplines and backgrounds. Home Youth Designers GlobalMoms Initiative Design As A Force For Good We are a Women-Design-Collaborative Partnering with Women Designers & Artists without Borders Empowering Women Entrepreneurs and ALL Change-makers We believe good design can change the world & LESS is MORE Submit Design Request Contact Us About Us Through MomDesigner100 program, GMI links like-minded and socially conscious women designers from various professional settings and cultural backgrounds. To further leverage their professional capacity and innovative minds, GMI has established the Design Innovation Center, which is gradually evolving into a Women Design Academy. The Design Center directly provides various design services across fields including visual, graphic, architecture, interior, art exhibition, fashion design, and more. We have also developed our first s eries of general design education courses and WomenINdesign Talks targeting early-stage women and mom designers from different disciplines. We aim to offer further design education courses, workshops and customized education programs, advocating for gender inclusive and sustainable design principles. What does design mean to us? Design is the first human behavior. Everyone can design; our every day life and every action is a design activity. GMI advocates and practices cross-disciplinary and collaborative design work integrating sustainable and gender inclusive design principles, in particular design-driven solutions for the real world, social problems. GMI is also trying to accumulate funding to set up a Creative Women Fund , to support MomDesigners at early career stage to learn and study abroad or internationally to sharpen their design skills and broaden their art vision. MomDesigner 100 Program Principles & Culture GMI Design Innovation Center aims to incorporate sustainability & inclusiveness into every des ign and act as an advocate for a greener and happier world for all. Our principles: Design for gender equity and social change. Design to better life for all, with a focus on the WellBeing4Moms and vulnerable groups. Apply cost-effective solutions, environmental-friendly materials in every design thinking and process. Commitment to fulfill ourselves through empowering others. Our team culture: Agile Gender inclusive Organic Courageous Impact-oriented We welcome women and mom designers from sustainable materials, architecture, fashion, jewelry, handcrafts, ICT and many more professional backgrounds to join our global design network. Get inspired and inspire others! Design Fields Visual and Graphic UI/UX Design Architecture and Interior Industrial and Product Social Design* Design Education * Social design means everything we design and think of to design is to meet unmet social needs and contribute to solve a complex social problem, most of all, gender inequality. Leadership & Advisory Team Gao Yuan Sustainable Design & Visual Communication Liang Kai Curator & PhD inn Arts & Design He Siqian Gender Inclusive Tech Design Xie Xiaolu Architect, Architecture Psychology Designers & Artists in Partnership Around the Globe Qiu Qiu Branding and Visual Design Yuna Guo Branding and Visual Design Yang Zhou Photographer / Cinematographer (Male) Sharon Liu UX/UI Design Jack Chen Industrial and Product Design (Male) Yali Wu Visual and Font Designer Xiao Meng Illustrator and Book Design Belinda Zhang Natural Fabric / Textile Design Eliz, Yang Yan Landscape Design Li Nan Visual and Graphic Design (Male) Karman Ceramic Artist Lucy, Zhao Shiqi Digital Media Design Esther, Li Yunfeng Founder of Ming Women's Museum, Curator Cai Ruijia Digital Media Design Liu Xinyu APP developer, based in France Chen Yiyan APP developer, based in USA Design Empowered Partners partnerships@globalmomsinitiative.com © GMI DESIGN 2024

Written by Margaret Nie English Translation by Christina   When I was young, we lived a very poor life. I remember that at primary school, we used the kerosene lamp. Back then, there was only one available, my brother and I tried hard to study under the dim light through the charred glass. My mother sat at a corner of the bed, holding needle and thread, either working on shoe soles or sweaters. After decades, that scene still lingers in my head. Our bed was old style, a handmade, red-wooden structure with three sides of fence. That was my mother’s dowry. The two sides of the opening were engraved with patterns, the old, rude flowers. The carpenter’s skills were not as delicate. It adopted the mortise and tenon joint. The header was engraved with patterns, the details of which I can’t remember clearly. But what I do is that there was a footboard under the bed. I could make it to the bed with its help. My cousin said once she came to our home, seeing the little me laying on the footboard asleep, which made her feel sad.   Back then, I was always jealous of the girls in my class wearing all sorts of sweaters. Because its diverse patterns best represented the craftsman’s skill and aesthetic level. Many classmates’ mothers were very good at knitting. At that time when supplies were scarce, females were mostly knitting professionals. They were able to make slippers, gloves, scarfs, sweaters and pants at home. I can’t remember how many sweaters my mother made me. During idle winters, women at countryside would sit together to make cotton shoes and sweaters, while my mother was not a skilled one. She sometimes took the needle to neighbours to learn how to knit, then started all over again back home. One year, a few classmates gradually wore rainbow-coloured sweaters, which was made from mohair of seven colours, furry, bright and so beautiful. I cried to my mother to get one too, but she didn’t have enough money to get yarns of so many colours. Then she torn down my father’s brown pants, adding another colour, and roughly made me a dual-coloured sweater. When I saw the completion, it didn’t have pretty patterns, neither bright colours. I felt it very ugly and didn’t even want to wear it in front of my classmates. When it was quite cold, I wore that piece inside plus a jacket outside to hide it, because it was barely worth of bragging about for an eight, night year old girl. I even wanted it to be worn out quickly so that I didn’t need to wear it any more. Then I learnt to knit myself, gloves, scarfs, and even vests and sweaters. I also inherited my mother’s capability, starting all over again, without any satisfactory works. When I was 18 years old, my fellow workers also loved to knit shoes and sweaters in winter. Some of them did it for boyfriends. I learnt to knit a sweater for my father. It had odd sleeves and smaller collar; anyway, I completed it. Then I brought it to him; my mother said he was very happy about it and talked to others about his girl being able to do that. I knitted a pair of slippers for my mother, which was made from red yarns. It was also barely good; however, after over 10 years, it is still there back home. Then my mother bought a lot of slippers, while only this red one remains impressive. With sweeping wind in autumn, cold becomes noticeable. This season in Shenzhen is always back and forth. It will get hot again once you think the autumn is already here. No matter how short autumn and winter are, I would always keep a cardigan sweater in my closet. It can be a good back-up in AC-ed rooms. Its softness is always next to the skin. To get a fashionable sweater is very easy nowadays, any style, any colour, any texture, hundreds of choices out there. But I know that it is impossible to go back to the days when every knitting held warmth. In that dim room, there was my mother knitting, my father bantering with my brother – should you not study well, I would buy you a cow to breed…  and myself…

Photo / Jing's work time Interviewed by Jane & Zhang Qingyu Finalized by Jing English Translation by Eva, Wang Yiman From Jingdezhen to Finland My name is Wang Jing, born in Chengdu, Sichuan. In 2012, I came to Aalto University in Finland to pursue a degree in Applied Art and Design . It has been nearly thirteen years since I first set foot in this northern land. Before that, I studied Industrial Design at Jiangnan University in China. Upon graduation, I began to wonder which path I should take. The traditional route of an industrial designer didn’t quite attract me — I preferred working with my hands, creating objects that carried warmth, where art and design intertwined. At that time, I was deeply drawn to ceramics, so I went to Jingdezhen, the ancient porcelain capital of China, and spent a year there crafting ceramics. Yet, after a while, I found it less inspiring . The atmosphere was becoming overly commercial, and I longed for something new. I decided to apply to schools abroad, using my ceramic works from Jingdezhen as my portfolio. I chose Aalto University because, during my junior year, I had spent half a year as an exchange student in Denmark, where I fell in love with the Nordic design philosophy — functionalism infused with artistry, bringing beauty into everyday life . The program in Applied Art and Design turned out to be exactly what I wanted. It encouraged exploration — from ceramics, glass, woodworking, to textile and fashion design. The school gave us both freedom and resources, along with creative workshops, to discover our own direction.   Exploring Sustainable Design While studying in Finland, I noticed that many design brands and startups were highly committed to sustainability. The materials they used were often recycled or made from dead-stock fabrics. Even their packaging tended to be plastic-free. I was amazed — every brand was living by the principles of sustainability! That realization inspired me to pursue something related to sustainable design. I turned my attention to plastic. The idea for what later became Upcycle with Jing  began when I saw a YouTube video teaching how to make flowers from plastic bottles. I tried it myself, and the flowers turned out to be full of life. During my student years, I would sell these plastic-bottle floral jewelry pieces at Christmas markets, and they were well received. Buy products from Upcycle with Jing After graduating in 2018, I officially founded my sustainable design brand — Upcycle with Jing. Today, it has two main product lines: one featuring jewelry made from recycled plastic bottles, and another using fabric scraps from factories to create hair accessories.   My First Startup with My Husband I met my husband at Aalto University — he was a programmer, I was a designer. Together, we founded a digital agency, taking on web and graphic design projects. It was exhilarating — no more rigid 9-to-5 hours, and we could choose our own clients and projects. This experience taught me patience and gave me a deeper understanding of Finnish society and its business ecosystem. Our startup began quite casually — one time we designed a poster and website for a school party, and then realized: why not do this professionally?  Finland supports entrepreneurship strongly; we received an €800 monthly startup grant, which helped us get on track. At the start of our venture, we brought in a mutual friend as our accountant. He also ran a startup incubator at a Finnish technical school and quickly became one of our biggest supporters. Maybe it was because we worked with devotion and finesse, polishing every project to near perfection—always over delivering, as if excellence itself were our unspoken creed. In Finland, the startup support policy is very inclusive. As long as you want to start a business here — whether you are a local or a foreigner — you can apply for support. When we applied for the government’s startup grant, we spent two days writing our business plan. There is an official website with many detailed questions that must be answered one by one. After submitting it, government officers will review your plan and invite you for a one-hour interview. If your application is approved, you first receive a six-month startup allowance, which totals €4,800. After six months, the government will schedule another meeting to check your business progress. If things are going well, they will grant you the remaining six months of support, making it a total of twelve months of subsidy. For us, this financial support was very important at that time — it helped us purchase equipment and get our business off the ground.   The Habit of Painting Shaped Who I Am Since primary school, my mother had forced me to learn the electronic keyboard, but I really didn’t like it. She was very strict with me. I told her I didn’t want to learn anymore — I wanted to paint. She agreed, saying, “Alright, I won’t make you practice the keyboard anymore. Let’s focus on painting.” She enrolled me in an art class, and I’ve been painting ever since. This hobby has accompanied me all my life. After giving birth, I went through a period of low mood, and it was painting that helped me get through that rather dark time. Even now, I paint regularly with a friend — we meet twice a week, while the dads take care of the kids, and we paint together in a café. At present, I really enjoy developing derivative products. Apart from Upcycle with Jing , I also have another brand called Art by Jing , which mainly focuses on stickers and other cultural and creative items. I like to capture small Finnish habits that people can relate to — for example, Finns love drinking coffee and eating cinnamon rolls. I designed a sticker that says “Powered by kahvi ja pulla”  (meaning “powered by coffee and cinnamon rolls”). It sells very well at the Finnish Design Museum and in our store. Many people see it and think of a family member or colleague who fits that description — it resonates with them, and they buy it right away. Many tourists also love it and feel that it represents Finnish culture. My inspiration often comes from the hope that my works can create emotional resonance with others. I am also designing some stickers that are partly humorous and partly encouraging. I draw some with messages like “Stay strong,” “Keep going,”  and “You are good enough.”  In Finland, people love putting positive stickers like these in their notebooks. Depression in Finland is partly related to the climate and partly to the culture. Finns value personal privacy and tend to keep a certain distance from others. Many live alone, and once you live alone, it’s easy to feel lonely and depressed. In addition, the unemployment rate is relatively high, so people often feel that it’s hard to find a job, and some become somewhat discouraged and give up easily. They need encouragement. I also pay attention to what competitors are doing. I often collect stickers from designer brands sold at MUJI, and sometimes I exchange my jewelry for them. I collect them in my own notebook. From this, I try to design products that are different from others, to find my own unique point. I also absorb some good elements from other people’s works and then look for differences based on that foundation. I have a personal principle: Stay inspired.  When I was in China, I felt that a 9-to-5 job didn’t suit me very well. I was more suited to freelancing. The environment I was in back home wasn’t particularly inspiring. I preferred the kind of design found in the Nordic countries — pure, refined, and aesthetically pleasing. I was naturally drawn to it. At that time, I felt that staying too long in Jingdezhen wasn’t sustainable for me. I might have had to work just to make a living instead of devoting my energy to creating inspiring works. If I had stayed longer, I might have lost myself. I wanted to keep improving my sense of design and artistic aesthetics, so I knew I had to go somewhere better. That’s why I left and went to Aalto University in Finland.   The Difference Between Finnish and Chinese Education In Finland, graduate studies require strong self-motivation. The Finnish master’s system is actually better suited for local students, because Finnish students have already developed a general direction from a young age, and teachers simply help them go deeper in that direction. It’s not like in China, where you take one course today and another tomorrow. Here, it’s more of a free-range approach. When I first came, I found it quite hard to adapt. Later, after observing my Finnish classmates, I realized that they all had their own opinions and a very mature sense of aesthetics — something cultivated since childhood. Aesthetic sense must be accumulated from an early age. University provides a platform for you to shine, but you must already be an excellent person to begin with. I wasn’t a very self-driven person growing up. My high school was one of the top schools in Chengdu. At that time, our grade had about twelve classes, each with sixty students, and there were always rankings. The pressure was intense, and everyone was constantly competing with each other. One influence that Chinese education left on me is that I love writing to-do lists — it’s a habit carried from middle school or high school. Every day before doing things, I like to write them down on paper. Crossing out many tasks at the end of the day gives me a strong sense of accomplishment, as if the day hasn’t been wasted. Even now, I still have nightmares about taking the college entrance exam. My high school education affected me in two ways. First, in my second year, I went to Tsinghua University’s School of Continuing Education to study art for two semesters as part of art exam training, so I missed two semesters of regular classes. When I returned, I found my academic performance had dropped sharply. In our class of sixty students, my rank fell to around fiftieth. Before going to Beijing, I used to rank around twentieth or thirtieth. I felt so down — I suddenly found myself among the lower-performing students. My chemistry was especially poor, and I often dream of taking chemistry or math exams in my sleep. Another influence was that my close friends from before no longer talked to me after I returned. Perhaps because I had been away for so long, they already had their own small groups. I could understand that, but it still hurt. One of my best friends stopped talking to me, and I was really sad at the time. Fortunately, our relationship has been repaired since then.   Marriage, Children, and Career Choices For me, whether to get married or not doesn’t really matter anymore. After living in Finland for a long time, I found that many couples are simply partners who have lived together for twenty years without getting married. I thought, maybe I’ll do the same. I had no special feelings about marriage and was actually afraid of holding a wedding — the kind where both families meet and everything is formal. I didn’t want that. I just wanted to keep things simple, to get the marriage certificate and be done. My husband and I only had a small ceremony in India. Having a child wasn’t planned either — it just happened naturally, without any preparation. My husband is Finnish. He’s 35 now and still hasn’t finished his master’s degree. He thinks Aalto University’s courses are too easy. He told me that if necessary, he’ll turn one of his projects into a master’s or doctoral thesis someday. That’s his choice, and I respect it. In Finland, work focuses more on experience, ability, problem-solving, and communication skills. Educational background is only one factor. Finns are guided by interest when choosing jobs. Being able to do the work you love is considered success. I believe that if you are to do one job for a lifetime, it must be something you truly enjoy — something that keeps you motivated. In Finland, children’s interests are nurtured from kindergarten. For example, my son started kindergarten when he was one and a half. After his first semester, during the parent-teacher meeting, the teacher told us, “Your son really enjoys painting. You should encourage him and prepare more art materials at home so he can draw.” This semester, the teacher found that he also likes singing, so we’re encouraged to let him sing more. From kindergarten on, they observe what a child likes, and parents are expected to support and prepare accordingly.   Gender Differences in Family Life When our child was small, I often complained to my husband that I was doing more childcare. At first, he helped quite a lot, but over time, he began staying up very late and waking up late, so in the mornings, I was always the one with the child. I felt it was unfair. Later, we went together to Finland’s family counseling center, and by this year, we’ve gotten used to it. My husband and I reached an agreement: at the beginning of each week, I tell him which days I’ll be going out with my friends to paint or to socialize, or when I need to work — for example, taking photos or running a workshop. On those days, I can’t take care of the child; he has to do it. Making this schedule in advance has helped us balance things better. At first, I wasn’t used to it. When I needed him, he couldn’t come immediately, and we often argued about it. Over time, we got used to each other’s style, and things gradually improved. Now that our child is older, my husband has also become more engaged as a father, though it took him longer than me to adapt. He really enjoys playing with our son. When I face difficulties, I’m not ashamed to seek help. I have many friends in similar situations — after having children, we all complain about our husbands sometimes. We often vent together, and after that, we feel much better. We also share information about good or bad psychologists. This kind of exchange is very important. In the first three years after having a child, almost every family goes through something similar. Our family counselor once mentioned that postpartum hormonal fluctuations can last for several months. In our first counseling session, my husband wanted more intimacy and couple time, while I wanted time for myself. He felt I was giving all my time to the baby and none to him. I told him, “I need time for myself first; then I can think about other things.” He eventually adapted. I told him, “Without my own time, I would die.” He understood and stopped insisting. The counselor also suggested that the father and mother should regularly discuss how to divide household and childcare duties, and reach an agreement. Both my husband and I practice yoga and meditation. Although we had conflicts at first, most issues were gradually resolved, and I came to see that he truly wants to be a good father. Becoming a mother is actually a wonderful thing. There is joy every day with the child. The beginning is difficult, but it can be overcome — the key is communication. Children give you a fresh perspective on life. To new mothers, I would say: “Seize every opportunity to rest, and practice self-care. Only by taking care of yourself can you take care of your family — especially your mental health. Don’t pursue perfection. Being an okay mom is enough. You don’t need a perfect home — if the house is messy, that’s fine.” Read Chinese Version https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2m2Zml9rcxh1byctjOEKzw

Photo / Ziwei's daily life in Canada I’m a 32-year-old mom from a small town in China, and a new immigrant to Canada. I’ve been out of the workforce for five years. I have no local connections, no resources, and no prior experience organizing exhibitions or events. For a long time, I deeply doubted my own abilities and often felt anxious in social situations. So when I first tried to make an exhibition happen here, I almost wanted to give up every single day. But in the end, I did it. Even though it wasn’t as perfect as I imagined, I truly believe that with the right support, every mom can achieve what she dreams of. Timeline December 2024: The idea of bringing The Mom Story Exhibition from the GlobalMoms Initiative (GMI) to Canada came to me. The founder helped form a small volunteer team. January 2025: I started searching for venues online, contacting galleries, and submitting an artist statement and exhibition proposal. The second gallery I reached out to responded! I also wanted to seek sponsorship or partnership opportunities, but unfortunately, that part didn’t work out. January–April: I joined brainstorming meetings with the GMI founder and co-curators. Volunteers helped with translation. I oversaw story selection, revising translations, and collaborating closely with the design volunteer. May–July: The designer and I worked on exhibition text and image layout design. Then I contacted a fabric manufacturer for printing, collected my family keepsakes, and wrote captions for each item. 2025 August: I brought all materials back to Canada, sourced local supplies, gathered tree branches, and hand-assembled the exhibition using natural rope and fabric. The captions were written on cardboard, to make sure everything as eco-friendly as possible. Moments of Doubts In 2024, I joined a nonprofit organization focused on empowering mothers. In the same year, they held MomStory Exhibition in Tianjin, which deeply moved me. Since then, I’ve had a quiet thought: Could I make something like that happen here in Canada? But I’m the kind of person who’s full of ideas but often struggles to act. Luckily, with strong encouragement from the GMI founder, I finally decided to go for it. In the beginning, I simply Googled the term “art gallery” to look for inspiration. Most of what I found were grand, high-end art exhibitions. I was terrified that my small, humble project would be rejected, so much so that I barely dared to contact anyone. The exhibition setup process was also exhausting. As I stitched fabric and tied threads, I could barely breathe from the pressure. Many times, I thought about giving up the eco-friendly idea and just buying ready-made scrolls. But in the end, I made it. The Magic of Been Seen Finally, we were accepted by the city hall’s window display area. And as it turned out, the art coordinator in charge of the space was also a woman who had previously curated an exhibition about mothers. See? Women help women. I always thought I wasn’t good at expressing myself and struggled with verbal communication. But while writing the stories behind each keepsake, I found that people genuinely loved my captions. I even received heartfelt encouragement from the founder. At that moment, I realized that writing, might be one of my small gifts. In my childhood and adultescence, I could not afford to learn anything such as playing piano, dancing, etc. Therefore, the encouragement was unexpectedly comforting. It reminded me that everyone has their own unique strength that they might not know of. The Power of Leadership Throughout this curating journey, what struck me most was the importance of leadership. Our volunteer team wasn’t built on a traditional top-down hierarchy, but rather on flat, collaborative teamwork. No one assumed what others could or couldn’t do. Whenever someone said, “I’d like to try this,” the rest of the team, especially the founder would offer genuine encouragement and practical suggestions. This supportive, trusting atmosphere helped me overcome my hesitation to ask for help. Instead, I learned to communicate proactively. I learned the importance of “housekeeping” and regular “check-ins”. This became one of the most valuable collaboration strategies I’ve learned. When progress slowed down, I would clearly and respectfully realign the timeline and tasks with my co-curator, without any assumptions and always believing in her capabilities. I’ve come to understand that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about creating a space where everyone can shine. Final Thoughts From self-doubt to persistence, from meltdown to being seen, this journey taught me one of life’s most important lessons: Never underestimate yourself, and never underestimate the power of small actions. If you’re also a mom, or you often feel like “you’re not good at anything”, I want to share my story with you: Even if it’s slow, even if it’s imperfect, just take the first step. You’ll discover that you can go much further than you ever imagined.  After Story The days are long, But the years are short --Reflection on my 32th birthday & 4th birthday for my son Turning 32, I’ve come to feel the Years slip away before we know it. On my birthday, I spoke with two women in their seventies. Both said the same thing almost identically, “Enjoy your time with your kdis. Spend as much time as you can – really engaging with them. Because before you know it, time just flies.” And that struck me. Because at seventy, What truly remains? Money? You can't take it with you to the grave. Ego? Reputation? You may enjoy them for a season. But they will fade eventually as you grow old. When the stage lights dim, what stays? Only memories. At the end of life,  when everything begins to rewind, what will we see? A childhood wrapped in love, "someone,"  a youth striving to become and then,  the long middle stretch, the juggling between work and family, ambition and exhaustion, dreams and diapers. In those final moments,  perhaps we'll regret not spending more time leaving good memories for our children. Not taking that trip with our family. Not doing the things we longed for but postponed, always telling ourselves we were just. "surviving." At the most recent gathering with my middle school classmates, one of them, also a mother, laughed and said to me, "Even with your education degree, you still end up taking care of kids." That comment stayed with me. Many people are confused about this: there is no dichotomy between being highly educated and being a mother. Yet people insist there is. It assumes that people with education and intellect should sit in offices, earning money, producing, achieving. But not staying home, not slowing down. But what if the real wisdom lies in understanding that life's value isn't measured by output, but by presence? That raising a child, nurturing a home, or simply being here attentively might be the most profound form of education there is? The days are long, but the years are short. And when we finally stand at the end of our own story, we might realize that the things that truly mattered were never the things that made us "successful," but the moments that made us alive. About the Writer Ziwei,  a typical “small-town striver” turned journalist in Beijing for three years, I later saved up to pursue a graduate degree in Education—specializing in Leadership Studies—in Canada. I am now based in Victoria, British Columbia. Having spent a year studying in the Middle East, I developed a deep understanding of intercultural communication. In recent years, my interests have expanded to sustainability and feminism. Currently, I’m on a gap year, embracing full-time motherhood. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziweiluo/