Education plays a major role in the poverty eradication strategy of China. On July 13, 2015, China and Equatorial Guinea jointly dedicated a substantial amount of money to renovate a primary school in Jinping County, Yunnan Province in southwest China, through the coordination of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project dubbed China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School provides decent education facilities for learners from 16 minority ethnic groups living in the county. On November 4, 2016, the school was completely renovated and officially handed over to the community. Since then, the school has endeavored to become the best among the seven to eight counties in the area. 

Students in the school (HU FAN)

A donation of about 4.9 million yuan ($721,300) from the government and people of Equatorial Guinea has further deepened the people-to-people friendship between China and African countries. Speaking to ChinAfrica, Ran Hongyan, Principal of the school, said, “We are grateful to the people of Equatorial Guinea and African people as a whole because they came to us when we were inneed. Through their support and that of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have a modern school, which reflects our deep partnership and brotherhood.”

Built on an area of more than 2,500 square meters, the school is currently supporting 2,267 students at different levels, among whom 15 percent are from registered poor households. The number of teachers has also increased by 24 percent to 107. Children with disabilities get high level of support from their teachers and fellow learners. It is difficult to distinguish children from different ethnic groups in the school since the children mix with each other and appreciate one another by learning at least a song, a dance, or a story about others and speak at least one other ethnic group’s language. This has helped them develop friendships and live in peace.

African guests in the school (HU FAN)

To commemorate the ever-growing friendship between China and Equatorial Guinea, a special room has been set aside to showcase this long-lasting relationship, in addition to holding extra curriculum activities such as calligraphy, chorus club and speaking club, among others. All these create a loving environment for the children from the minority ethnic communities to achieve their fullest potential at the school and get rid of poverty.

The writer is a Kenyan studying in Communication University of China