Dear 2050 Volunteers,

At 2050@2018 and 2050@2019, volunteers from more than 292 cities around the world got together to share their view on the future of our world and the grand challenges ahead in the way of young minds. Just like everyone of you, I am very much looking forward to the upcoming 2050@2020.

However, the global spreading of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been affected almost every one of us. On March 11th, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the COVID-19 constituted a global public health emergency. Throughout human history, we have never seen any pandemic that spreads so rapidly around the world and endangers our lives. This is the challenge faced by all humanity.

In the face of such a global pandemic, the preciousness of young people ’s responsibility for the future has become even more prominent. In the past year, over 700 volunteers from more than 60 cities around the world participated in the monthly meetups at 2050 camp for the preparation of 2050@2020 only. More than 300 of them chatted through the night at the camp. This is a sincere effort to make 2050@2020 a better time for young people to meet each other. Also, volunteers of the Migratory Bird Program have helped connect nearly 200 young people in more than 60 cities from six continents, striving to make young minds meet and create countless imaginations for the future.

Unfortunately, today’s pandemic has prevented 2050@2020 from proceeding on schedule. Instead, 2050@2020 will be merged with 2050@2021 into 2050@2020&2021 and will proceed in April 2021. This is a reality that I am very unwilling to believe but have to admit. Once the pandemic ends, we will inform all of you about the arrangement of the monthly meetups at 2050 camp.

Activities that have been registered on 2050.org website will be moved to 2050@2020&2021 by default. We have also contacted with all volunteers who have purchased 2050 PASS. I am very touched that all of them have chosen moving the registered PASS to 2050@2020&2021. THANK YOU! I greatly appreciate all the efforts from all the volunteers around every part of the world. Every tick of 2050 countdown started from the new year of 2019 urges us to come together again soon!

Young people are all different. They come from different parts of the world, speak different languages, embrace different technologies, and have different dreams. Young people are also the same. They are all like children who don’t have umbrellas but like to run in the rain.

I look forward to seeing you at 2050@2020&2021, and believe that there won’t be such a pandemic in the future that prevents us from meeting with each other!

Wang Jian
Founder, Hangzhou Yunqi Science and Technology Innovation Foundation; Founder, Alibaba Cloud
April 8th, 2020, Yunqi