Opportunities abound for Chinese-fluent Namibians

WINDHOEK — Young Namibians learning Chinese at the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia are maximizing their acquired language skills to seize better opportunities.

Grace Nande, 23, who enrolled in the Chinese language course at the institute in 2016, is now in her fourth year of studies at the university. In 2017, she was one of the students chosen by the Confucius Institute to travel to China and participate in a Summer Camp in Beijing. A total of 90 students took part in the summer camp program until 2019.

This was a good opportunity for language skills exchange, exposing her to Chinese culture and ancient history, visiting sites such as the Great Wall, and experiencing the modern part of Beijing, including advanced technologies, she says. “I never dreamed that I would ever visit China; learning the Chinese language enabled that,” Nande adds.

Learning Chinese has also inspired her to start a blog and a YouTube channel, where she shares her learning experiences and what she knows about the language with others. She hopes to transform the channel into a tutorial hub, and generate an income while helping people to learn Chinese in Namibia and beyond.

Soin Ndalimbililwa started learning Chinese in 2017 while in Grade 11 (secondary school). The same year, she took part in the Chinese Bridge competition for secondary school learners and won first place.

“Getting a chance to participate in the international competition in China is my greatest achievement. My future plan is to one day create an app that translates my native language into Chinese to bridge the language barrier,” Ndalimbililwa says.

Sadam Hamunyela, 26, is also studying Chinese at the institute. He says that learning the language allowed him to pursue a diverse range of opportunities.

“I was offered part-time translation jobs by a Chinese company based in Namibia,” says Hamunyela, who has been studying at the institute for three years.

His ability to speak Chinese has also bridged communication barriers with Chinese people living in Namibia. “When I go to the popular China Town industrial area in Windhoek, I can interact with the Chinese people,” he says.

Meanwhile, students also share the Chinese culture in their social environments, such as friends, family members, and broader communities.

“I share what I learn with my family and community to help unravel the myth that the Chinese language is difficult to learn. I even cook Chinese food and listen to Chinese music,” Nande says.

Namibian youth attached to the institute are also eyeing significant educational and economic opportunities amid blossoming China-Namibia bilateral ties.

Liu Dianbo, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia, says that the chance to learn the Chinese language had been well-received in Namibia, attracting more than 5,900 Namibians who have learned Chinese courses since the opening of the institute in 2013.

Complementary to teaching, it was set up to promote China-Namibia relations through cultural exchanges and other opportunities, Liu says. These included the celebration of traditional Chinese festivals and participation of students in the annual Chinese Bridge competition — though the latter has been put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 20 students visited China under the Chinese Bridge competition and more than 15 students obtained a Confucius Institute scholarship.

“Learning the Chinese language creates opportunities for the locals, further builds capacity and contributes to national development,” Liu says.

The Confucius Institute has established 15 Chinese teaching sites in Windhoek and the towns Ongwediva, Rundu, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund.

Marius Kudumo, director of international relations at a local university, says that learning Chinese in Namibia is a key to building strong relations between Namibia and China and promoting intercultural ties.

“Ultimately, it would enhance understanding, yield multiple benefits and serve as a competitive advantage for young Namibians,” Kudumo says.

Apart from the jobs and study opportunities, it translates to knowledge acquisition, which, through China-Namibia bilateral ties, equips youth to acquire the attitude of self-reliance and hard work, according to Kudumo.

“In this way, the youth can maximize China-Namibia relations,” Kudumo says.