There is a newly built school in Chambishi town in Zambia's Copperbelt province, which often draws the attention of passers-by with its colorful walls and tidy gardens. This is Chambishi Secondary School, which was rebuilt by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited (SMLZ), a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd.
During an interview, students dressed in peach pink uniforms talked about their comfortable study environment, new campus, the benevolence and the goodwill of the Chinese enterprise. The cross-border friendship has helped students become confident for their future and enabled them to believe that knowledge will make a difference in their lives.
However, it wasn't what Chambishi Secondary School looked like just a year ago. In early 2022, the school roads were very muddy and slippery and rain started to leak into the classrooms with broken roofs, windows and doors when the area was hit by continuous rainfall.
Officials from Kalulushi region thus visited the SMLZ, hoping that the company could help the school renovate the buildings and improve study environment for over 1,000 students there.
Chambishi Secondary School is the only place for eligible students from nearby areas to receive middle school education. At that time, it was of urgent need to kick off relevant renovation work because of the opening of the new semester.
After learning of the school conditions, the SMLZ immediately rendered a report and got an approval for the renovation plan under the framework of China-proposed "100 Companies in 1,000 Villages." After holding talks with many construction companies, it finally reached a deal with Kovic Investment Ltd about the renovation task, which was designed to build a durable campus.
During the construction process, the SMLZ oversaw the supplies of construction materials, the implementation of construction plans and the drafting of construction timetable.
Many parents of Zambian students said that they were very happy to learn of the renovation and remained grateful to the Chinese firm for its assistance. They explained that the previous poor school conditions often negatively impacted their kids' academic performance, adding that they are now no longer worried about these issues.
The China-aided renovation work was basically completed in November 2022 and the new campus was handed over to the Zambian authorities in January 2023.
William Manda, principal of Chambishi Secondary School, conveyed great thanks to the SMLZ for its tremendous assistance to the school. He said he had acquired a deeper understanding of the importance of a sound study environment to students' academic performance. He was deeply impressed by the love and caring exhibited by the company and highly appreciated the support made by all Chinese enterprises to the development of Zambian education.
He emphasized that the cooperation and development between China and Zambia will become brighter under the guidance of China-African friendship.
The assistance of the SMLZ has helped Zambian parents and students better understand the importance of education, injected new vitality into local economic and social development, sown the seed of friendship between the countries. Each recipient student will represent the hope of Zambia and become a participant in carrying forward China-Africa traditional friendship.
