CCTV News: In the past few days, Kenya's key livelihood project - Nairobi water supply pipeline project has ushered in partial completion and delivery, and it is expected that the entire line will be open to water by the end of this year. This large-scale project, led by Chinese enterprises, not only opens up the "lifeline" of local water supply, but also cultivates a number of new infrastructure forces by "passing on help and leading". Among them is a pair of "Central African masters and apprentices", the two are of different nationalities, similar in age, and close to each other because of the project.
In the village of Kigolo in the town of Sika on Kenya's southern highlands, construction teams are laying water lines to divert water from the dam area to Nairobi and address the capital's water supply for nearly 3 million people. The Chinese engineer working on the measurement was Yu Chunyu, and the Kenyan boy next to him was his apprentice, John Wang.
John Wang, water pipeline project worker in Nairobi, Kenya: In school, I rarely have the opportunity to use these devices myself, such as real-time dynamic measurement. My master would take the time to teach me how to use these professional equipment.
Nearly 300 jobs in the construction of the project, such as surveyors and welders, are locals. In the early stages of construction, the skill levels of local staff were uneven. In order to quickly master the skills, the Chinese construction team opened courses such as surveying and welding, and each person brought 3 to 10 Kenyan apprentices.
Yu Chunyu, Project Engineer, Nairobi, Kenya, China Construction: Now that they are basically clear and the instruments are basically proficient, I feel that these are all good exercises for me.
Starting from the most basic line work, John Wang followed his Chinese master for 3 years. Now, he has officially switched from a manual pay-off worker to a professional surveyor.
John Wang, water pipeline project worker in Nairobi, Kenya: As a surveyor, I earn 1,400 Kenyan shillings (about 80 yuan) a day, twice as much as I used to earn in other companies.
This kind of "passing on and helping" teaching not only allowed Kenyan employees such as John Wang to learn to use level, welding, machinery and other equipment, but also formed a deep friendship between employees of the two countries.
Yu Chunyu, Project Engineer of Nairobi, Kenya, China Construction: (Among the apprentices) only he calls me Master, and no one else calls me Master, others call me Mr. Yu, that is, call me by name (character). (He) Master, Master shouted like this, and asked me every day if I could do Chinese Kung Fu, and (he) said that you would teach me.
John Wang, water pipeline project worker in Nairobi, Kenya: I concluded that "Master" is my teacher, teaching me how to work and how to solve problems.
These two young people of similar age have become mentors and apprentices from colleagues, and they are also like good brothers like a family. Every rest day, John Wang's family of three would send their own vegetables and fruits to the project, and Yu Chunyu would also bring out Chinese food to give them back.
Yu Chunyu, Project Engineer of the Nairobi Water Supply Pipeline Project in Kenya: These are all foods brought from China, we call them melon seeds. We eat this when we watch TV, and we call it pot.
During her several years in Kenya, Yu Chunyu, like most expatriate employees, was able to return home once in a long time. The warm atmosphere of John Wang's home made him feel the warmth of a long absence after being wandered in a foreign country for many years.
With the advancement of the project, more and more local young people have found jobs and learned technology here, becoming a new force for the development of Kenya's infrastructure industry and a new engine for promoting the construction of the "Belt and Road".
Liu Haitao, Project Manager of Nairobi Water Supply Pipeline, Kenya, China Construction: At present, the localization utilization rate of all technical skills and operators in the project has reached 100%, and they have cultivated a strong skill in our project, and they will be able to find jobs wherever they go in the future.
Joseph Kajan, General Manager of the Water Authority in As, Kenya: Water resources are very valuable to the people here, and once the pipeline is connected, it can effectively solve the problem of drinking water shortage. The construction of the project has also led to employment here, and we are very grateful to the Chinese builders, which is a tangible benefit of the "Belt and Road".
Source: CCTV