CRJE BRINGS TOGETHER CHINESE AND TANZANIAN CHILDREN TO CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP THROUGH CULTURE, CAREER EXPERIENCE

By Prosper Makene

CRJE (East Africa) Ltd has celebrated International Children’s Day by putting children at the center of China-Tanzania friendship with aims of planting seeds of trust early, so the next generation sees the partnership as something personal, not only official.

More than thirty children of Chinese and Tanzanian CRJE's employees as well as students from Dar es Salaam and Dodoma Schools joined for the company’s Parent-Child Open Day. Held under the theme “Youth Bridge Nurtures Children, Young Pioneers Forge the Future,” the event focused on culture and shared learning instead of formal speeches. 

For Tanzanian families, the event offered a rare opportunity to interact directly with a major Chinese enterprise. Many parents said their children had heard about Chinese companies through news reports and construction sites, but had never met Chinese peers their own age. The Open Day closed that gap. Teachers from the partner schools noted that students often learn about other countries through textbooks. Events like this make Tanzania and Chinese children experience and share cultures directly, which makes lessons about friendship and respect more real.

Addressing the event in Dar es Salaam, 

Zhang Cuishan, Vice Director of CRJE (East Africa) Ltd said: 

“Over the years, our overseas employees have taken root in East Africa and worked diligently at the frontline, making important contributions to the development of the enterprise and the friendly cooperation between China and Tanzania.” 

Explaining the theme of the event, Zhang Cuishan reminded children that friendship starts with small actions — a shared smile, a new word learned, a dish tasted together. 

He said that those small actions accumulate into trust, and trust is what sustains cooperation between nations.

“This event is not only a warm and joyful Children’s Day celebration,” Zhang said. “It is also a beginning. We hope every child here will remember today and carry forward the spirit of understanding and respect. When you grow up, you will be the ones to continue building China-Tanzania cooperation, not only in infrastructure, but in culture, education, and human connection.”

For CRJE East Africa, the Children’s Day Open Day represents one part of a broader commitment to corporate social responsibility. While the company continues to contribute to Tanzania’s infrastructure development projects. 

He says it will also continue investing in people-to-people programs. Through the Youth Bridge and Watoto initiatives, CRJE aims to ensure that development brings communities closer together, not only physically but socially. Company representatives said future activities will include school visits, environmental clean-up days, and more youth exchange programs.

Zhang also said: “Every railway sleeper laid, every bridge completed, every project milestone reached — behind these achievements is the understanding and support of employees’ families. That is why the launch of the Overseas Employees Care Month is so important. It reflects our company’s care for overseas employees and their families, and our commitment to their sense of belonging and happiness.”

He explained that CRJE East Africa operates under the philosophy that “development depends on employees and development is for employees.”

He noted that while the company pursues high-quality infrastructure development, it also has a responsibility to give back to the communities where it works. 

He further said that through its Children Care Initiative programs, CRJE has funded school supplies, organized cultural exchanges, and created platforms for Tanzanian and Chinese youth to interact. Since 2021, the Green Bridge Initiative has donated learning materials to more than 15 schools in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Pwani regions.

“Today, we invite children of Chinese and local employees and outstanding students from the Chinese Bridge competition to enter our enterprise and experience the world of work,” Zhang told the audience. “Through skills practice, talent shows, and food exchanges, we hope children will broaden their horizons and gain friendship in joy. We also hope more local young people will understand Chinese enterprises and experience the warmth of China-Tanzania friendship. This event is not only a celebration, but a friendly exchange across languages, cultures, and borders," he said

Zhang encouraged children to participate actively, to be brave in trying new experiences, and to remember that their generation will carry forward the relationship between the two countries. “I hope both Tanzania and Chinese kids will learn more about the culture of each other, feel the profound friendship of China-Tanzania cooperation, and strive to be young envoys of this friendship,” Zhang added. Zhang also connected the day’s activities to CRJE’s larger projects.

Zhang said that while steel and concrete build physical connections, it is human connection that ensures those projects serve communities for generations. Zhang pointed to CRJE’s policy of hiring and training local staff, and said the children in the room represented the future workforce and future partners.

*Teachers celebrate language as a bridge*

Charles Ezekiel Eltwaza, a teacher from Elshaddai Primary Schools in Dodoma, took the stage speaking on behalf of Mandarin teachers across the country. Eltwaza’s remarks drew loud applause from parents and students alike, as many recognized the challenges and joys of learning a new language far from its country of origin.

“On this happy Children’s Day, I feel honored to represent all Chinese language teachers in Tanzania, children are the hope of a nation and the future of the whole world. Caring for children’s growth and protecting their innocent dreams is our shared responsibility and wish. Today, looking at the pure and bright smiles on site, our hearts are filled with warmth and comfort,” he said.

He emphasized that language learning is about more than grammar and characters. “Language is a bridge, youth are envoys,” he said. 

He went on to say that Chinese learning is not just about mastering a language. It is about building a channel for Tanzanian and Chinese youth to communicate, to share ideas, and to dream together. Through Chinese culture, more Tanzanian children and Chinese youth are crossing mountains and seas to engage in colorful cultural exchanges, online interactions, and knowledge-sharing activities.”

Adding, “This pure cross-border friendship makes China-Tanzania friendship more vivid and warmer. It also plants the seeds of lasting friendship firmly in children’s hearts."

 He underscored that when youth understand each other, the two countries will be close. When youth share one heart, the future will walk together.

Eltwaza concluded by thanking all parents, school leaders, and CRJE staff who support overseas Chinese education. “Going forward, we will continue to support China-Tanzania youth cultural exchange, so children from both countries can increase understanding and build friendship through interactive learning. Let the flame of China-Tanzania friendship be passed down from generation to generation among young people.”

A representative from Dodoma School also addressed the audience on behalf of local schools, noting that opportunities like this help Tanzanian students see the world beyond their classrooms. “When our children meet peers from different backgrounds and learn together, they grow in confidence and respect,” the school representative said. “That is education beyond textbooks. Today they learn teamwork, communication, and cultural respect in a way no lesson can fully capture.”

*From ballroom to back-of-house: career experience in hospitality*

After the performances and a group photo session, the program shifted from stage to experience. Children, guided by hotel staff and CRJE volunteers, toured different departments of the host venue which was Rotana Hotel of which for many Tanzanian children, it was their first time behind the scenes of a five-star hotel. For children of Chinese employees, it was a chance to see how hospitality works in their host country and compare it to experiences back home.

In the lobby and front desk area, children learned how guests are checked in and how reservations are managed. Hotel staff demonstrated the technology used for booking and explained the importance of customer service with patience and a smile. Children practiced typing names into the system and printing sample key cards. Some children practiced greeting guests in both Swahili and Mandarin, surprising their parents with new phrases. A few bold children even role-played as front desk agents, handing out sample key cards to their friends and asking “Karibu, welcome.”

The tour continued to housekeeping, where children saw how rooms are prepared and learned about the standards of cleanliness in international hotels. They tried folding towels and arranging amenities, competing in small teams for speed and neatness. Laughter erupted when one team’s towel swan collapsed, but the children quickly rebuilt it together. Hotel staff explained that attention to detail is what makes service excellent, a lesson the children took seriously. Several children said they now understood why their rooms at home should be kept tidy.

“Cooking together broke the ice faster than anything else,” said one parent watching from the side. “My daughter who is shy normally was laughing and sharing with a Chinese boy she just met. That is what this day is about. They are not thinking about where they come from, only about making food together.” Another parent noted that the activity taught practical skills: “My son learned how to knead dough. That is a life skill, not just fun.”

Lunch brought everyone back together. The buffet featured a mix of Chinese dishes like fried rice and dumplings alongside Tanzanian staples including pilau, and grilled meat. Children filled their plates and sat at mixed tables, continuing the conversations they started in the kitchen. Parents noted that the food exchange was one of the most effective ways for children to learn about each other’s cultures without words. A child who had never tried chapati tasted it for the first time. Another discovered dumplings and asked for the recipe to take home. Some children traded snacks they had brought from home, turning the meal into an informal cultural fair.

*Parents and staff reflect on impact and belonging*

As the event drew to a close, parents and teachers spoke about the value of the Open Day. Several Tanzanian parents said they appreciated the chance for their children to interact with peers from different backgrounds in a safe and structured environment. They said such exposure builds confidence and reduces stereotypes. One mother said her son had previously thought Chinese people “only worked on construction sites,” but now understood that Chinese children also study, play, and share meals.

Chinese parents said the event helped their children feel more connected to Tanzania, their temporary home. Living abroad can be isolating for families, but seeing children make local friends gave them reassurance. Parents also appreciated that the company recognized families, not just workers. 

“This is not just a party,” said one Chinese employee. “It shows that our company cares about our families, not only our work. When my child comes here and makes Tanzanian friends, I feel more settled. I understand why we are here. We are not only building railways, we are building relationships.”

A teacher from Bodhi International School said events like this complement classroom learning. “In class we teach about China and Tanzania as countries on a map. We talk about trade and history. Today the children experienced the friendship. They felt it. That kind of learning stays longer,” the teacher said. The teacher added that schools welcome more partnerships with companies that can offer real-world exposure to students.