Chongqing—In August, the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation organized an international volunteer team to visit a girls' rescue center in Kenya's Narok County, supporting the girls' education, health, and daily needs. The initiative, which began in Chongqing and extended to Kenya, offers an example of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa.
Over the past 16 years, Mary Silantoi, head of the girls' rescue center, has taken in 40 girls. Many had dropped out of school or were homeless, while some had left their families after resisting traditional practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation. In 2023, Tang Lin and Yuan Lin, both from Chongqing and starting their businesses in Africa, purchased land in Narok County, Kenya, and worked with Mary to establish the center, providing the girls with a stable environment in which to live and study.
Children play at the girls' rescue center. (Photo/The Organizer)
At the center, the girls are gradually learning about health and hygiene, self-protection skills, and their legal rights. They are working to avoid risks such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy while beginning to pursue their own dreams. Fifteen-year-old Macy enjoys observing insects. Lucy hopes to become a lawyer advocating for the rights of women and children, while Jackie, who loves drawing, often uses her paintbrush to depict elephants.
As part of the initiative, the volunteer team provided funding to cover the girls' tuition for one academic year. They also offered physical and mental well-being sessions, teaching basic health and hygiene knowledge and providing basic psychological support. The volunteers also brought craft materials, including beads, along with daily necessities such as sanitary pads and toothbrushes.
Mary said the girls are not only receiving care and support but are also gradually learning to care for and help others.
Volunteers distribute daily necessities to the children. (Photo/The Organizer)
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and African countries, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. In response to calls to promote women’s development, the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation established the African Women and Children Sustainable Development Special Fund, focusing on areas including physical and mental health, educational support, and vocational empowerment to support the development of women and children in Africa. The assistance provided to the girls' rescue center in Kenya is among the first projects supported by the special fund.
Volunteers attend a physical and mental health session at a girls' rescue center. (Photo/The Organizer)
Chongqing's public welfare efforts extend beyond Kenya. In Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania, the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation and its international volunteer team also engaged in exchanges with local government officials, healthcare workers, and community representatives, and visited local communities to better understand the development needs of women and children.
The team found that many local women have a strong interest in entrepreneurship and hope to improve their families' livelihoods through businesses in areas such as catering, livestock farming, beauty and hairdressing, and handicrafts. However, they generally face challenges including limited skills and a lack of start-up capital. In response to these needs, the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation has signed memorandums of understanding with the Tanzania Dreams Organization and the Joy and Hope for Rural Community Foundation to support the development of local women and children.
Volunteers sing with children at a girls' rescue center. (Photo/The Organizer)
Looking ahead, the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation plans to establish international volunteer service stations, known as "Land-Sea Yi Stations," in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries. The stations will continue to bring together Chinese and African enterprises, public welfare organizations and community groups to facilitate the implementation of public welfare projects. The foundation also plans to use activities such as the China-Africa Forum on the Development of Women and Children to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
From helping a group of girls build stable lives and continue their education to exploring public welfare cooperation with more African communities, Chongqing is expanding its engagement in Africa through initiatives focused on education, health, and capacity building. These efforts are creating more tangible opportunities for people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa.
(Xia Xinrui, as an intern, also contributed to this article.)