MCEDO Beijing School receives Ksh 11 million donation from the Chinese community in Kenya
The MCEDO Beijing School, located in the sprawling Mathare slums of Nairobi, Kenya, stands in sharp contrast to the clutter of shanty housing and densely populated communities around it.
Before entering the courtyard, visitors are greeted by the happy sounds of excited children.
Step inside, and a colorful, child-friendly setup unfolds, neatly tiled walkways leading to modern classrooms.
This is a far cry from the school’s early days in 2006, when the institution was buckling under the weight of numerous challenges. The Chinese community, led by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, took an interest in the school after a group of interns filmed a documentary highlighting its struggles and shared it with the embassy.
Speaking during a colorful ceremony attended by enthusiastic learners, parents, and teachers, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the embassy remains committed to supporting education in disadvantaged communities.
“We are delighted to see that with efforts and support from all parties, the MCEDO Beijing School has overcome difficulties and achieved remarkable results in campus development, teaching capabilities, and the holistic growth of students, creating an oasis of hope for the children and their parents of the Mathare constituency,” Ambassador Guo said.
She added that the MCEDO community has benefited from strong backing from the broader Chinese community in Nairobi, especially Chinese enterprises. This support, she noted, has enabled some students to gain admission to Kenyan universities and others to pursue further studies in China.
At the same event, Yu Xiaodong, President of the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), said that at the start of the partnership, the association raised 55 million Kenyan shillings, which helped improve the teaching environment and expand the school’s learning capacity. He expressed pride in the growth of the student population since then.
“Now, 13 years later, KCETA and the embassy have jointly contributed more than 11 million shillings to renovate the school and provide essential supplies,” Yu said.
The MCEDO Beijing School is one of several education projects supported by Chinese entities in Kenya, part of ongoing efforts to promote people-to-people cooperation and expand opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
