Making a difference in Africa
Chinese professionals, working on diverse projects in Africa, share transformative experiences — improving infrastructure, health, and education — while fostering mutual respect and cultural exchange, shaping a brighter future for both continents, Li Xinr
Africa is a continent that everyone knows about, but not many fully understand. “If you haven’t been there yourself, you would never truly know what it’s like,” said 29-year-old Huang Siyuan.
From 2019 to 2022, Huang worked as a security engineer at a sewage treatment plant in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The project was contracted to and built by CGGC International.
Huang grew up and spent his academic life in Beijing. “If it weren’t for this program, I might never have gone to Africa,” he said. “I’m thankful that my company provided this platform for me to participate in international projects. It’s a great opportunity for both personal and professional growth.”
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is in western Africa and has a population of a little over 1.6 million. The sewage treatment plant that Huang works for is in the capital, Malabo.
Recalling his first impression of Malabo, he said, “The city has a lot of greenery, with tons of mango and banana trees lining the roads. The infrastructure was more complete than I expected, with tall buildings and a well-connected transport network.”
However, when Huang arrived as the new security engineer, the plant had already been in use for about four years. According to his colleagues, Malabo looked very different before the plant was built.
“I heard that locals used to dispose of their waste right in front of their doorsteps. Since mosquitoes breed in sewage water, the incidence of malaria in the local community was extremely high,” Huang said.
So, with the sewage treatment plant, not only had the city’s appearance been enhanced, but the health condition of the local people also improved.
According to Huang, the plant has a daily processing capacity of approximately 20,000 cubic meters of sewage water. They’ve also built a supporting pipeline network totaling over 240 kilometers, covering basically every household in Malabo.
“A survey done by the World Health Organization showed that after our plant was put into use, the city’s incidence rate of malaria dropped from 45 percent to 11 percent,” Huang explained.
Even if someone contracts malaria, including Huang himself, it’s not a significant issue because of the availability of artemisinin. “The hospitals there also use artemisinin, which was discovered by the Chinese scientist Tu Youyou. Local people seek treatment as well since it’s affordable,” he said.
Huang and his colleagues conduct routine checkups and cleanups of sewage wells around the city. “You could say that our footsteps covered every inch of Malabo,” he said.
Sometimes when Huang and his colleagues were fixing the wells, they would run into local residents, who would thank them for improving the local living environment. Some would even offer food and fruits, but Huang and his colleagues couldn’t accept them. “We regard their gratitude as the most precious reward,” he said.
Heating up cooperation
While the Republic of Equatorial Guinea was Huang’s first trip out of China, Li Haitao, 33, has been a seasoned traveler who has worked on several international projects around the world.
He is now the project manager of the Sosian Geothermal Power Plant, which is built by Kaishan Group, working in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to Li, geothermal power plants need to be built in countries with ample geothermal resources. This is why they are mainly distributed in the transitional part between the Earth’s tectonic plates where there are frequent crustal movements, resulting in abundant geothermal resources. “I have worked in several countries like these before, including Turkiye, the United States, and Hungary,” Li said.
However, among all these countries, Li believes that Kenya is particularly rich in unexpected discoveries and surprises.
“About 95 percent of the local people I have encountered so far can have daily conversations in English,” he said.
Li was also surprised by the level of education of his Kenyan colleagues. “Many of our workers have college degrees. I have been in multiple situations where our local staff requested leave to attend training or doctoral thesis defenses.”
According to Li, the company provides regular training for the local staff, hoping that they can take on more responsibilities and more technical jobs.
“In the beginning, the company sent over 40 Chinese employees here to build the power plant. Two years later, there are only 10 of us now. In the future, we hope to reduce the number to three for core management,” said Li.
Other than providing job opportunities and training for local people, the power plant has made a significant contribution at a broader scale.
“Since geothermal power is a green and relatively low-cost energy source, it has been effective in driving down local electricity prices,” Li said.
Kenya has been developing geothermal energy since 1981. Most of its partners at that time were Japanese and European companies. Kaishan is the first and only one from China.
“There have definitely been challenges along the way. For instance, I have run into several cases of labor strikes, demanding higher salary,” said Li. “In my experience, the only solution is communication with mutual respect. So we would take their requests into consideration, communicate the project schedule in advance, and provide bonuses for outstanding employees.”
In Li’s opinion, Kenya is a relatively developed country, where most daily shopping needs can be fulfilled, and communicating with government departments is usually smooth. But for Ye Zhaoying, who used to be a data analyst and consultant for the office of the United Nations Development Programme in Sao Tome and Principe, her experience in Africa was quite different.
Small-big changes
Ye, 29, acquired her master’s degree in architecture and civil engineering at Chongqing University in Southwest China. “I first learned about the United Nations and its missions when I participated in the International Civil Servant Capacity Building Project hosted by the UN Association of China in 2018,” said Ye.
Later on, she completed another master’s degree in international relations at IE University in Spain.
Soon after she graduated, she learned about a UNDP’s program in Sao Tome and Principe, and she seized the opportunity right away.
“It was a decision that I will never regret,” Ye said.
Sao Tome and Principe is the second smallest country in Africa with a population of only 230,000. “By UN definition, Sao Tome and Principe is one of the 45 least developed countries in the world,”
Ye said. “Local economy mainly relies on aid from other countries and international organizations and tourists from European countries.”
UNDP focuses on areas such as poverty alleviation, combating AIDS, fostering social development, integrating human rights protections, and instituting women’s empowerment, and Ye’s daily work covers all these aspects.
“My job includes interviewing, surveying, fundraising, and executing empowerment projects,” said Ye.
Ye mentioned that there is only one university in the country. “One year they even had difficulty recruiting students,” she said. “And for those who were able to obtain college degrees, most of them would seek job opportunities in European countries.”
In Sao Tome and Principe, Ye got to learn firsthand about the dire needs and priorities of the small country.
“I was able to see for myself that the country needs engineering projects to deal with natural disasters such as floods and storms. They also need health resources such as medical supplies and expertise,” she said, adding that the Chinese medical team stationed in the country represents the highest medical standard.
Both Huang and Li agree that one of their biggest gains is learning about local culture and undergoing personal growth at the same time.
For Chinese young people considering working in African countries, they emphasize the importance of mutual respect and personal safety.
“It was an honor for me to have contributed a small part to the cultivation of friendship between China and an African country. However, each country has its own features and issues, so it’s important to learn to adapt,” Huang said.
Currently, Ye works for the Small Island Developing States section of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Although based in Paris, she is still working to help the least developed countries.
“I absolutely believe that young people should explore the world,” said Ye. “But before leaving for Africa, one should be clear about what they seek to gain from this experience and their plans afterward. Most importantly, be mentally prepared. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.”
Most importantly, be mentally prepared. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.”
Ye Zhaoying, 29, employee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
About 95 percent of the local people I have encountered so far can have daily conversations in English.”
Li Haitao, 33, project manager of the Sosian Geothermal Power Plant
We regard their gratitude as the most precious reward.”
Huang Siyuan, 29, security engineer at CGGC International