Schools of hope

By Derrick Silimina

As laughter and singing echo through a community school in Mathare, a slum in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, the vital role of quality education becomes unmistakably clear. 

“It’s not that dropping out of primary school due to lack of sponsorship didn’t affect me, but I’m hopeful for a brighter future now that I’m back in the classroom,” said Hanif Mwangi, a 12-year-old seventh-grade pupil at the MCEDO Beijing School, in an interview with ChinAfrica. 

On his way home from school, Mwangi navigates a rugged path winding through rows of shacks tightly packed within the sprawling Mathare Township. With a growing number of vulnerable children in Nairobi’s second-largest slum, the rising rate of school dropouts in Mathare compounds the struggles of a community already burdened by widespread illiteracy. 

It is the second-biggest slum in Nairobi after Kibera. Most parents in Mathare can’t afford to provide basic needs like food and shelter.  

Despite significant progress in Africa towards improving access to quality education and ensuring the completion of basic education, disparities remain for children from the poorest backgrounds, particularly those with disabilities. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), many of these children reside in informal settlements. 

In response, the Kenyan government, in collaboration with UNICEF, recently launched a programme called “Operation Come to School.” This initiative targets children aged 6 to 13 in 16 counties and informal settlements where the risk of dropping out is highest. 

Supporting this effort, Transsion Holdings, along with other Chinese companies operating in Kenya, is enhancing the lives of children in Mathare’s slums by providing access to quality education. 

“I became homeless after my parents’ untimely death. I took refuge at an orphanage in Nairobi which made it possible for me to get back to a Chinese-aided school,” Grace Odongo, a pupil at the MCEDO Beijing School told ChinAfrica. 

Odongo believes that schools which support education among young learners in informal settlements are seen as a blessing to help to lift poor people out of poverty. 

  

A blessing for impoverished kids  

In 2012, the Chinese Embassy in Kenya introduced the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA) to the MCEDO Beijing School as a development partner. Thanks to years of financial support, student enrolment at the school has grown from 200 to over 500. 

KCETA, an umbrella organisation of Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya, is bringing hope to young learners attending the MCEDO Beijing School in Mathare.  

Recently, the association donated approximately Sh6.83 million ($52,741) to the institution to support renovations and provide meals for students. 

Benedict Kiage, the school’s director, noted that prior to the institution’s founding in 2001, access to education in Mathare was a significant challenge, leaving many children illiterate. 

“The desire to see children in the slum access basic education motivated us to establish the school. One of the school’s initial goals was to keep Mathare’s children in the classroom,” Kiage explained. 

According to school authorities, the management has implemented a school meals programme that provides each student with two meals daily. This initiative addresses the nutritional needs of students, many of whom only have one meal a day at home, while others often go hungry all day. 

Like many informal settlements plagued by violence, crime, and gang activities, learning centres such as the MCEDO Beijing School are a beacon of hope for the younger generation in Mathare. 

Zhang Zhizhong, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, recently highlighted the longstanding friendship between China and Kenya, noting that the embassy has supported the school’s students for the past 17 years. 

“We will also provide new desks, chairs, and other facilities, and every student will receive a new backpack to support their studies,” Zhang announced after donating over $38,000 for school repairs and renovations following damage caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods. 

MCEDO Beijing School receives a donation from KCETA on 23 June 2023 (XIE SONGXIN) 

 

Indispensable contribution 

Elijah Mungai, basic education director for projects in Kenya’s Ministry of Education, expressed gratitude to China for giving the country’s children the opportunity to return to school. 

Mungai added that Chinese firms have consistently provided essential learning tools, such as desks, chairs, and free meals, since 2019. Powered by the Dream Building Service Association, a non-profit organisation founded by young Chinese volunteers in 2014, the Hanka Education Centre hosts more than 400 young learners. It is one of 15 learning centres established within the sprawling Mathare slum, all of which have benefitted from programmes sponsored by Chinese firms. 

Hanka Education Centre’s Head Teacher Esther Dodo recently emphasised the transformative role played by Transsion Holdings, a Chinese tech company renowned for its smartphone brands, including Tecno, Itel, and Infinix, in improving the lives of children in Mathare. 

Transsion Holdings has implemented several corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at improving education in Kenya and other countries. Among these is the Educate a Child programme, which seeks to enhance education for African refugee children. Additionally, Transsion’s public welfare projects, such as the Dream Sports Bag and Rural Multi-functional Classroom, aim to improve educational conditions for rural children. 

Parents like Monica Akwino have recognised the positive impact of Chinese-funded learning facilities in Mathare.  

“Chinese grant-aided schools have created a conducive learning environment in our community. My child is not only able to read and write, but is also provided with books and meals during school hours,” said the mother of two.  

Fighting HIV/AIDS, supporting mental health in Zambia

 

By Derrick Silimina

For over 30 years, Sr. Mary Courtney, a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, has provided crucial support to people with HIV/AIDS.

A native of Ireland, Courtney, 84, is a coordinator at the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in the heart of Livingstone. She entered the novitiate in Boston in 1964 and professed her final vows in May 1972. 

She then went to Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast to complete her registered nursing training and Dublin for midwifery training. Her missionary work has taken her to Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia. 

Zambia has a challenging history with HIV/AIDS, and Courtney's fight against the disease has made a difference in the lives of many. She spoke about the 1990s when patients were bedridden and stigmatized. Today, antiretroviral drugs enable patients to lead normal lives with a significant reduction in stigma and an increase in patient confidence.

Courtney oversees programs for those on antiretroviral drugs, intellectually disabled individuals and adolescents. She also works with patients living with mental health issues, epilepsy, tuberculosis and cancer.

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GSR: Kindly tell us about your work and ministry.

Courtney: My humanitarian work is driven by prayer, community support, and a desire to show love and service to the most vulnerable in society. I have been in Livingstone since 1994, and my first assignment was working for a home-based care program, which at that time had many HIV/AIDS [patients].

After the introduction of antiretroviral treatment, the needs of the people changed, and the face of home-based care changed as well, from purely home-based care to the inclusion of the economic empowerment aspect. As a result, the organization changed [its] name from St. Francis Home Based Care to St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme.

Sr. Mary Courtney is pictured with a group of volunteers from the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in Livingstone, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

Who inspired you to become a sister?

I was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. As a young girl, I desired to be a missionary in Africa and to become a Franciscan. My nursing profession aligns well with my missionary work, which entails the Franciscan charism of love, service, honesty, transparency, dignity and respect for creation.

How does your charism align with your missionary work?

Our organization upholds values such as love and service, honesty [transparency] and respect for human dignity, all aimed at promoting peace and justice and strengthening friendship with all creation.

By believing in the philosophy of "working with" rather than "working for" the people, our organization empowers men and women from within the communities who have always been the backbone of our program activities. These "supporters" are the primary contact with the needy and marginalized. They are the ones who identify, assess and enter the clients to receive services.

Sr. Mary Courtney interacts with patients receiving medication from the St. Francis Community Integrated Care Programme in Livingstone, Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

In response to HIV/AIDS, how did you manage to establish counseling, palliative services and home-based care, as well as behavioral programs?

We built a good rapport with the clients and other stakeholders, including [the] government at [the] district level, and it was and has been easy for the organization to implement home-based care, behavioral programs in schools, economic empowerment through savings and internal lending communities, and mental health programs for adolescents. 

Through lobbying meetings with the district health office, we moved our mental health clinics from under trees where we used to conduct them to the government clinics. Another point is the correct use of resources, especially finances, which enabled the organization to gain donor confidence.

How many patients have benefited from your humanitarian work?

More than 15,000 people have benefited directly from the program, and more than 40,000 indirect beneficiaries through various activities, including radio programs.

Tell us about your recent honor from Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema: the Presidential Insignia for Meritorious Achievement.

It is an honor and reflects tireless and fruitful ministry to vulnerable groups here in Livingstone. I did not attain it alone and owe it to the staff, care supporters, fellow sisters and everyone for supporting the organization from its inception.

What are your key challenges, and how do you address them?

Funding is a challenge. The organization has continued writing proposals to potential donors, especially for expensive psychiatric medication and supplements. The organization continues to hold advocacy meetings with the Ministry of Health so that the government will consider budgeting for medicines for people living with mental health challenges on a larger scale. 

Through the board of management, some fundraising ventures have been held, and profit is put in a fixed deposit account for future use.

I thank all our benefactors, families and friends for the unceasing support the organization has received to help the vulnerable in Livingstone.

Turning on the taps

 

By Derrick Silimina

For years, Hassan Juma has struggled to secure clean water for his family in Dar es Salaam’s southern suburb of Bangulo. Like many in the sprawling coastal city, he has faced persistent water shortages and has been forced to rely on expensive private vendors to meet his household’s basic needs. 

“A 20-litre container [of clean water] costs 600 Kenyan shillings ($0.22), and my family needs several of those each day. It’s hard to understand why something so essential is still out of reach,” Juma told ChinAfrica. 

Across Dar es Salaam, particularly in fast-growing suburbs like Bangulo, residents have long suffered from an unreliable water supply. With no regular public supply, many have been forced to dig shallow wells, often without proper sanitation or testing. This exposes communities to contaminated water and waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea. 

“The water from these wells isn’t clean,” said Juma. “It’s a risk we take because we have no choice, but it’s our children who suffer the most.” 

This crisis persists despite Tanzania’s abundant freshwater resources. Experts point to a combination of rapid urbanisation, outdated infrastructure, and insufficient investment in public utilities as the main factors behind the ongoing water challenges. 

Tanzania is undergoing one of the fastest urban transitions in East Africa. By 2030, more than half of the population is expected to live in cities, up from just 24.4 percent at present. 

Dar es Salaam, already home to over 40 percent of the country’s urban residents, is expected to remain a key destination for internal migration, according to the World Bank. 

For residents like Juma, however, a long-awaited solution has finally arrived. 

More than 450,000 people in south Dar es Salaam, including Bangulo, are now benefitting from a newly completed water supply project. 

Funded by the World Bank and constructed by Power Construction Corp. of China (PowerChina), a state-owned engineering firm, the initiative has brought a steady and affordable supply of clean water to the area for the first time in decades. 

The project marks a turning point for many families, and the impact has been immediate and transformative. 

“I can finally plan my day without the constant worry about where the next container of water will come from. This is more than just a convenience - it brings me peace of mind,” Juma said. 

 

An uninterrupted supply of clean water 

Launched in January 2024 and completed a year later, the Bangulo Water Project has brought reliable access to clean water across several communities in south Dar es Salaam. 

The initiative involved the construction of a pump station, a 10.8-km pipeline, a water storage tank, and a 9,000-cubic-metre reservoir. As a result, seven areas and several remote villages now enjoy continuous access to safe water. 

“In Dar es Salaam, many residents, including women and young girls, still spend considerable time collecting water. This takes away valuable time from education and economic activities essential to improving their livelihoods,” said Bella Bird, former World Bank country director for Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi and Somalia. 

Bird noted that the Bangulo Water Project aims not only to ease the burden on local communities, but also to enhance Dar es Salaam’s competitiveness and productivity as one of Tanzania’s key commercial centres. 

Among the beneficiaries is Rose Upendo, a restaurant owner in Bangulo, who recalled how water scarcity once severely affected her business. Operating her eatery was a challenge due to inconsistent water supply, but that has since changed. 

“This project is a game changer. Thanks to PowerChina, I’m now able to save enough to invest in expanding my business,” said Upendo. “In the past, I had to buy water at exorbitant prices from distant places like Ubungo, Kinyerezi and Pugu.” 

Upendo believes the project has significantly improved livelihoods in the area. Enhanced water accessibility and safety have helped to reduce public health risks and allowed residents to engage more fully in income-generating activities. 

Tanzania’s Minister for Water and Irrigation Jumaa Aweso recently stressed the government’s commitment to expanding water access, in both urban and rural communities. 

“To meet our ambitious targets for water supply by December 2025, we must adopt innovative financing mechanisms similar to the Tanga UWASA initiative,” Aweso said. 

The Tanga UWASA initiative is a successful public-private partnership that has improved water supply in urban Tanzania through innovative financing, efficient management, and infrastructure upgrades. 

Meanwhile, local authorities in Bangulo’s Pugu Station Ward, within Ilala District, have hailed the project as a milestone. The new infrastructure has drastically reduced the frequency of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera and dysentery. 

Goodluck Mwele, head of the ward’s local government, highlighted another social benefit: greater household security. “In the past, women had to leave home early in the morning to fetch water and would return late at night. That exposed them to multiple risks,” he said. 

 

Preeminent source of FDI 

Chinese enterprises undoubtedly play a pivotal role in Tanzania’s infrastructure development, serving as engines of regional economic growth and active contributors to China-Africa cooperation. 

Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian revealed that China has become a leading source of foreign direct investment in the country, making an important contribution to its development. 

“We are confident in Tanzania’s future development prospects,” said Chen during the one-day China-Tanzania Investment Forum and China (Jinhua)-Tanzania Trade and Investment Promotion Conference held in Dar es Salaam. 

PowerChina has stressed that the state-of-the-art water system has improved water access and safety for local communities, reducing disease outbreaks and relieving residents of the burden of time-consuming water collection. 

“This project has significantly enhanced water accessibility and safety,” said Yin Zifei, deputy chief engineer of the PowerChina project. 

Yusufu Mtamile, who has worked with the company for over a decade on various water projects, said PowerChina had greatly improved his family’s well-being. 

“My monthly salary enables me to pay school fees for my children and cover food and health care expenses,” said Mtamile, a human resources officer at PowerChina. 

Prized products, prized market

By Derrick Silimina

In the picturesque city of Changsha, a cool breeze from the Xiangjiang River whispers through landmarks like Yuelu Mountain and Orange Isle. Inside the exhibition halls, the rich aromas of African tea, spices, and essential oils filled the air, as a renowned showcase of China-Africa cooperation brands got underway. 

The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), held from 12 to 15 June in the capital of Hunan Province in central China, reflects the country’s deepening commitment to Africa, a continent that is home to the largest number of developing nations.  

Over 30,000 participants from nearly 4,700 Chinese and African companies gathered for a vibrant showcase of Africa’s signature exports - from Kenyan tea and Ugandan cocoa to Zambian honey, Malawian tobacco, Rwandan chilli peppers, South African citrus, and handcrafted fashion and gemstones. 

Since its launch in 2019, CAETE has become a flagship platform for strengthening China-Africa economic ties, drawing participation from 53 African countries and 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. 

New initiatives at this year’s CAETE, such as zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent of tariff lines for all the African countries with diplomatic relations with China, are expected to boost African brand visibility in China, open new trade and investment opportunities, and inject fresh momentum into Africa’s development. 

Access to a key market 

“I’m excited to showcase our African garments, covering men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, along with women’s designer accessories,” Mazuba Mwanza, a 38-year-old Zambian fashion designer, told ChinAfrica. “So far, I’ve sold 50 pieces, but the more important success is securing over 20 business contacts in the Chinese market.” 

Her label, Faimak Couture, won hearts at CAETE, as her creative designs turned curiosity into concrete client interest and business partnerships. 

Similarly, Changa Nkowane, CEO of Gilly’s Trends Enterprise, sought to explore trade opportunities at the expo. Gaining access to China’s vast consumer base is part of a broader strategy to increase Zambian exports and deepen bilateral ties. 

“As small-scale artisanal miners, we’re interested in partnering with Chinese firms to boost investment and add value to our products,” Nkowane said. 

His company, which deals in precious stones, honey, and handcrafted goods, used CAETE to explore new markets and expand its footprint. 

Led by Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga, Zambia’s delegation highlighted the expo as a key platform for attracting Chinese investment, especially in energy and manufacturing, while helping entrepreneurs like Mwanza and Nkowane to establish export pathways. 

“This expo aligns with Zambia’s wider goals of promoting economic diversification and increasing non-traditional exports by strengthening trade ties with China,” Mulenga noted. 

Investment and cooperation  

For African countries, events like CAETE offer more than access to China’s enormous consumer market. They also provide avenues for attracting foreign direct investment in crucial sectors such as agriculture, clean energy, transport, and health care. 

This year’s expo featured 30 economic and trade activities across sectors such as modern agricultural machinery, clean energy, smart mining, traditional medicine, industrial chains, youth entrepreneurship, and cultural industries. 

At the South Africa pavilion, more than 17 exporters from the Western Cape Province showcased their offerings via Wesgro, the region’s official trade and investment promotion agency. Their products ranged from organic cosmetics, wines, and spices to teas, fresh flowers, and nutritional supplements. 

“By engaging in global markets like China, we’re furthering our mission to drive trade and investment. Market diversification is key to building resilience and long-term growth for Western Cape businesses,” said Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander on the sidelines of the event. 

Stander welcomed China’s recent decision to extend zero-tariff access to all African nations with diplomatic ties, expressing confidence it would unlock major export opportunities - particularly for South African goods, as China remains the Western Cape’s largest export market.

 

Visitors examine Malawian jewellery and gems at the fourth CAETE in Changsha, Hunan Province, on 13 June (HU FAN) 

Prized products, prized market 

Against the backdrop of punitive US tariffs, China’s favourable trade policies and growing demand have made it an increasingly attractive market for Africa’s agricultural exporters. 

In Kenya’s lush Kericho County, tea farmer Doreen Otieno gently plucks the top two leaves and a bud - a prized part of the tea plant known for its fresh flavour. 

“I’m still struggling with over 100 kg of unsold tea due to the minimum price regime. It’s impacting my income and affecting cash flow needed to cover high production costs,” she told ChinAfrica. 

Despite Kenya’s position as a top global tea producer, challenges like price volatility, global competition, and limited value addition have constrained growth. Otieno and other smallholders are now eyeing the Chinese market, the world’s largest tea-consuming nation. 

To safeguard farmers, the Kenya Tea Development Agency - representing over 600,000 small-scale growers - recently set a minimum export price of $2.34 per kg. But the policy also resulted in large unsold volumes, raising concerns about its effectiveness. 

At CAETE, African nations showcased not only products, but also visions for future cooperation. At Malawi’s pavilion, pigeon peas, groundnuts, minerals, and gems caught attention. 

“We’re honoured to present our nation’s potential to the Chinese market and beyond. Together, we’re building bridges for trade, investment, and shared prosperity,” said a representative from the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre. 

Making her debut at CAETE, Florence Akinyede, a Nigerian entrepreneur whose business involves shea nuts, turmeric, and ginger root, also saw big potential. 

“We’re here to create synergy with Chinese entrepreneurs by adding value to agricultural produce and exchanging knowledge in manufacturing. This way, we help to develop our country and build a better economy,” Akinyede said. 

Upgrading maternal healthcare in Zambia

By Derrick Silimina

For Helen Zulu, maternal health care is not just a service at Monze Mission Hospital - it is an effort to save lives.

Zulu, 39, spoke to Global Sisters Report about a stressful ordeal she went through in 2018 at Monze Mission Hospital, 185 km (115 miles) south of Zambia's capital of Lusaka. A few days after giving birth, Zulu's child developed a life-threatening medical condition known as hydronephrosis, where the flow of urine is blocked within the urinary tract, causing urine to back up and potentially damage one or both kidneys.

"Whenever I think about my child's healing in the face of adversity, I become emotional," said Zulu, a mother of three. "This hospital's quality health care reflects its profound importance to the lives of patients and their families. My baby girl recovered and is now seven." 

Long before the mission hospital was established in Monze, mothers in the surrounding rural communities would give birth at home via traditional birth attendants, contributing to high maternal death rates in the southern African country.

In 1971, the late Bishop James Corboy of Monze Diocese, founded the health facility in a bid to address maternal health care in the district. The Irish Congregation of the Holy Rosary Sisters managed the hospital until 1995, until the local congregation, the Sisters of the Holy Spirit, took over. 

"This medical facility was started as a small rural health center with one building and only 24 beds, then increased to two buildings with about 30- to 40-bed capacity in a bid to attend to the community's health needs in Monze. Then, the district had no hospital or rural health center," Sr. Joyce Miyanda told GSR.

Miyanda, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit, said that the health facility now covers a wider area beyond Monze and has grown to more than 270 beds as patients seek specialized treatment.

Barely a year in her new position as acting senior hospital administrator, Miyanda told GSR that the hospital's motto of "Compassionate Care" is in line with the facility, renowned for its compassionate maternal health care in southern Zambia. 

Holy Spirit Sr. Joyce Miyanda (center), flanked by health care workers, inspects the neonatal ward at Monze Mission Hospital in Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

GSR: Kindly tell us about your work and ministry.

Miyanda: I initially started my work here as an assistant human resource management officer for 10 years, focusing on recruitment, motivation and career development. I realized the importance of human resources in the hospital's operations, as they are key to providing quality services. 

In 2024, I was assigned as acting hospital administrator, to oversee the overall supervision of hospital activities. My key duties include ensuring sufficient resources, planning and budgeting for availability of medical equipment and drugs, transport management, capacity building, overseeing nonclinical departments and managing the hospital's entire operations.

How has your professional journey been, and who inspired you to become a religious sister?

Straight from high school, I had a passion for human resource management and in 2004, I did a certificate at Greenwood Institute before I joined the sisterhood. In 2005, I fulfilled my childhood dream to become a nun after I was inspired in grade four by Sr. Anne Marie, who used to be at our local parish. 

Then at Mazabuka Girls High School, I again got inspired by Sr. Mariana Barlow, one of our teachers — a Holy Spirit sister who introduced me to sisterhood after I expressed interest. My greater calling was fueled by my passion to serve the poor and vulnerable people in society. I find joy in religious life and the mission of helping the poor, which has fulfilled my work at the hospital.

After I professed in January 2010, the religious sisters of the Holy Spirit took me back to school and I obtained a diploma in HR from the National Institute of Public Administration in 2012. I then went on to study (for) my bachelor's degree in HR at the Copperbelt University in 2019. 

My career journey began when I started working as a principal at James Corboy Primary School for two years and later as an assistant human resource management officer at Monze Mission Hospital. For the past 10 years working as HR, I realized the importance of handling human resources with care, as they are the heart of the hospital's operations.

Sr. Joyce Miyanda, left, poses with Sr. Purity Siloka, an accountant at Monze Mission Hospital in Zambia. (Derrick Silimina)

What is your charism and how does it align with your work?

Our charism as Holy Spirit Sisters is rooted in openness and dedication to the personal action of the Holy Spirit by following Christ's mission. It emphasizes the importance of being open to the guidance and insights of the Holy Spirit, and responding accordingly to the signs of the times. 

Our mission is to follow Christ's mission, serving the community and the poor with compassion and love. So as a Holy Spirit sister, one thing that I have always practiced and lived out is to give great witness to the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

How is the facility managing overall maternal health care in Monze district and the surrounding area?

So from the onset, we've had an obstetrician and gynecologist, who was Sr. Dr. Lucy O'Brien, just at the inception of the hospital. She belonged to the Holy Rosary Sisters, the first managing agents before we came in 1995 and they worked very hard to make sure that expectant mothers delivered safely.

Over the years, we have maintained a high standard of health care, including a well-equipped department with specialists, midwives and trainee doctors. In 2024, the hospital handled 4,485 deliveries, with an average of 385-420 monthly. 

How many staff manage various medical departments at your health facility?

The hospital has around 35 departments, which plays a critical role in providing essential health care services to the Monze community and surrounding areas, which previously had limited access to health care facilities. 

Our key health departments include major curative services like pediatrics, maternity wing, obstetrics, gynecology and surgery. Other support health services include laboratory, pharmacy, eye clinic, X-ray, catering, laundry, transport and stores among others. The hospital has 200 full time staff members, including doctors, nurses, but has over 500 staff including support staff.

We're grateful to the Ministry of Health, a significant funder. We also receive support from the religious Sisters of the Holy Spirit and the bishop's office among other donors.