NAIROBI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Dressed in a crisp white tracksuit, 20-year-old Leah Muthoni Kimani, a student at the University of Nairobi, created a viral moment at a public event with her flawless recitation of Chinese phrases.
Muthoni was invited to speak on behalf of fellow students who will be joining Tianjin Normal University in September for a two-year study program to improve their Mandarin skills.
A Chinese language major, Muthoni said she was overjoyed to secure the scholarship and vowed to return to Kenya to promote Mandarin teaching in schools. "This is a great day for me as it is also my birthday. I am so happy for the opportunity to study in China, and I look forward to coming back and teaching the Chinese language. It is nice to be a Chinese teacher," Muthoni said.
She is among 20 students from the University of Nairobi's Confucius Institute who were flagged off on Friday at a ceremony in Nairobi to travel to China for advanced Mandarin and related courses.
The students are beneficiaries of a tripartite agreement signed in December 2023 between the University of Nairobi, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education, and Tianjin Normal University. The pact aims to promote Chinese language proficiency through the "'2+2' Dual Degree Scholarship Program."
The initiative focuses on joint training in international Chinese language education and supports the broader goal of including Mandarin in Kenya's school curriculum. Graduates of the program are expected to qualify under the Teachers Service Commission of Kenya and will be recruited to teach Mandarin in secondary schools, contributing to the growth of Chinese language education in the country.
Having already completed two years of Mandarin studies in Nairobi, Muthoni said she looked forward to advancing her skills and forging lasting friendships during her time in China.
At the Confucius Institute courtyard, Stanley Ng'etich embraced his son, Brain Kibet, who will also be joining Tianjin Normal University for the two-year sponsored course.
A native of Nandi County in western Kenya, Ng'etich said he was overwhelmed as he watched his 22-year-old son prepare for a study opportunity rarely seen in his village. "We are here to witness a historic moment as our son begins the journey to China for further studies, and I am confident his life will be transformed," he said.
"As a parent, I have faith that my son will study hard and become a good ambassador for the country while in China. We expect him to come back with added skills and help our country grow," he added.
Kibet, who majors in Chinese language and minors in Kiswahili, said he felt honored to receive the scholarship and was eager to refine both his spoken and written Mandarin.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I have gladly accepted, and I look forward to exploring China, deepening my understanding of the language, culture, and history," he said.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by senior Kenyan officials, diplomats, faculty members and parents. Carol Hunja, secretary for higher education and research in Kenya's Ministry of Education, encouraged the students to fully immerse themselves in Chinese culture during their stay.
"Even as you go to China to study, I am challenging you to have some cultural exchange, do some walking around, and enjoy the food," Hunja said.
Amid waving Kenyan and Chinese flags, Ruth Nyakieni embraced her family before departing to pursue a postgraduate Mandarin degree at Tianjin Normal University. "I am hoping that I will learn more from the Chinese people, come back with skills that I can apply to develop this country. Since I will be doing a master's degree, I will become a qualified Chinese teacher," she said.
Song Chunzhi, a Chinese language teacher at the University of Nairobi's Confucius Institute, praised the students for their determination.
"They are delighted to have this opportunity to study in China," Song said.
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