China’s Ambassador Zhang’s journey from small town inspires Mathare students
More than 500 students in Mathare have been given a second chance to achieve their academic goals after recent floods destroyed their school, learning materials and books, thanks to a Sh5 million donation from the Chinese Embassy.
The donation comes a few weeks after some of the students studying at Mcedo Beijing School in the Mathare informal settlement were affected by the floods, forcing them to leave school and relocate after their homes were washed away by the floodwaters.
Speaking at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, Deputy Ambassador and Minister Counsellor Zhang Zhizhong said China felt the anguish of the people who lost their property and even loved ones in the recent floods and pledged to do its best to alleviate their pain.
“We are aware of the devastating floods and landslides in Kenya, and I assure you that we, the Chinese people, feel the same pain as our Kenyan brothers and sisters. We stand in solidarity with you. We express our condolences for the deaths recorded in the country,” he said.
The top diplomat said they were particularly interested in the education of children in Kenya, as it goes a long way in ensuring that both nations raise a generation of people with shared values for humanity.
As such, the Embassy saw it fit to come to the aid of the school, which has 520 students, to ensure that their education remains largely unaffected by the negative impact of the floods.
“Today I am happy to announce that the Embassy has donated Sh5 million to the school. This money will be used to renovate structures and provide desks, chairs and other facilities for the students. In addition, all students will be given a new backpack to carry their books and we hope that this will go a long way in supporting their studies,” he said.
Amb. Zhang also revealed that the Red Cross Society of China has already donated over US$100,000 (Sh13.1m) to Kenya to help with humanitarian relief.
He then told the story of how he grew up in a small town in central China, and how it was only with the help of many others that he finally got the chance to become a diplomat.
“I know that one of you, the students who came to the embassy for the donation, will be a diplomat one day. People do not choose where they are born, they choose where they go. We want to create a future of hope and expectation where everyone has the courage to achieve their goals and ambitions,” he said.
For his part, Benedict Kiage, director of Mcedo Beijing School, said at least 150 students at the learning institution were directly affected by the floods. This, he explained, was because their houses were on the riverbank and the government had ordered all houses on riverbank land to be demolished.
“The classrooms were slightly affected, but the books and desks were completely destroyed. A good number, about 30 per cent, of our students were affected because their families were relocated due to the floods,” he said.
He said the donation would go a long way in renovating the school, as well as providing some backpacks, teaching and learning materials for the students.
“We are grateful to the Chinese Embassy for their generous donation. I also urge more donors to visit Mathare and donate whatever they have to ensure they put a smile on a child’s face and help them achieve their dreams,” he said.