Jiazheng is a 20-year-old optometry student enrolled at Wenzhou Medical University. He lives in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Before pursuing optometry, Jiazheng became a pen-pal through his university’s Special Olympics Unified Association. Through this activity, he wrote letters to children with ID, and they would also write back to him. This ignited within him a desire to work with young people with intellectual disabilities, a goal that would become his reality through working as a Youth Leader with Special Olympics. Jiazheng hopes that his project will encourage more people to get involved with Special Olympics and to include people with disabilities in their everyday lives.

Jingkai actively participated in Special Olympics Unified Association’s activities at his university during his first 2 years of school. After two years of experience with Special Olympics, and volunteering with the organization, Jingkai has gained a lot of knowledge about disabilities and inclusion. He has developed strong organizational and management skills from his time working with Special Olympics and is a proud Youth Leader. Jingkai befriended many of the young people he collaborated with on his projects and events. He believes in Special Olympics missions and is sincere and enthusiastic about growing the Unified Generation!
Jiazheng and Jingkai noticed that in their community there is a lack of awareness surrounding intellectual disabilities. They feel that this is especially prevalent within the demographic of teenagers who may have trouble understanding the extra needs of youth with intellectual disabilities their age. Jiazheng and Jingkai hope they can bridge the gap between more vulnerable groups of people, such as youth with intellectual disabilities, and their neuro-typical counterparts.
Jiazheng and Jingkai hope to create greater understanding and facilitate relationships between youth with and without intellectual disabilities through several means: hosting pen pal activities, arranging visits to homes for people with intellectual disabilities, creating greater educational opportunities for youth with ID through contacting schools, and hosting a mini–Unified Games.
Jiazheng and Jingkai hope to produce the effect of more unity between people with and without intellectual disabilities. They also hope that through these activities genuine friendships can form between youth with and without intellectual disabilities.