Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian has provided Sh3,259,550 to MCEDO Beijing School in Mathare during the school's 16th anniversary
The Mathare Community Educational and Development Organization school (MCEDO), started in 2001 and partnered with the Chinese Embassy in 2006.
The school was officially established in 2007 by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
Pingjian said being in MCEDO school brings significance to the diplomatic relations between Kenya and China.
“The friendship between nations lies on the mutual infinity between the two people. So we are very proud of being the partner of the MCEDO School for 60 years,” he said.
“We are very optimistic in the spirit of the MCEDO Beijing School in all of our other relations, corporations where we are getting stronger for mutual benefit.”
In November 2012, the Kenya China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), organized the Chinese member companies of association and other Chinese-funded institutions in Kenya to provide teaching resources to the school.
According to the school director Benedict Kiage, the associations and companies raised Sh54.468 million towards the expansion project of phase II.
“As a result of the expansion project, the student number of enrollment has increased from 200 to 526,” Kiage said.
To improve the teaching environment of the school, KCETA completed the renovation and maintenance of the school with Sh7.134 million since the school was severely damaged.
“Between October and December 2022, Yocean Group Limited, a member of KCETA donated EPC project worth Sh5.82 million,” Kiage said.
It included design, supply, installation and commissioning of 13KWP solar mini-grid system with battery energy storage capacity of 20K WH, complete wiring and lighting of all rooms, security nights, one-year operation and maintenance service to MCEDO Beijing School
He said the expansion project and renovation project of Mcedo Beijing School, has renewed awareness of the importance of education in Mathare slums.
Kiage said ever since the partnership with the Chinese embassy, KCETA has been supporting the school and the girls' team (Beijing Raiders Football Club) through various donations.
“The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has awarded Chinese government scholarships to high school graduates from the MCEDO Beijing School, and three students are currently applying for them,” he said.
“If all goes well, they will do their 4-year bachelor program in China and go out to the world this September for free, which is unprecedented for the MCEDO Beijing School.”
The Ambassador said the Embassy will always be there to support the school in whichever way.
“We will try our best to tighten this special bond and we wish the very best to the MCEDO Beijing School,” Pingjian said.
MCEDO has also partnered with Canada-Mathare Education Trust (CME Trust), an organization whose aim is to provide secondary and post-secondary scholarships to high-achieving low-income scholars who come from Mathare Valley slums.
The organization also supports them with life skills and leadership training when they close school.
The program manager of CME Trust Esther Njenga also congratulated MCEDO Beijing School on achieving the great milestone of providing quality and accessible education to many students from Mathare.
Also in attendance were TVET Principal Secretary Esther Muoria and other associates from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
