Malawian student reignited dream in China's Yunnan

(ECNS) – A shuttle is driving through the cliffs and valleys in Balog Zon of Yunnan Thursday, and the guide was vividly telling the story of a Tibetan building roads among mountains regardless of the harsh conditions helping villages to connect with the outside world.

On hearing the story, tears ran down the face of Chitosi Innocent, a Malawian studying at Beijing Jiaotong University, who never expected to meet the road builder in person later on and was given a Bodhi bracelet as a gift. "Young man, I hope you can keep working, keep going!", said the Tibetan road builder Sina Dingzhu to the Malawian student.

Born in Malawi, a southeastern African country, Chitosi made all his way into China to pursue more education. "Malawi is a big developing country, and there are only five state-owned universities across Malawi. Most Malawian children can't afford to study in schools, not to mention universities, but I'm lucky." Chitosi smiled.

"Back in 2016, I saw a special advertisement in the local newspaper after I graduated from high school," speaking of his relationship with China, Chitosi explained, "The advertisement, published by the Chinese Embassy in Malawi, said anyone who is interested in studying in China can make application to the Embassy."

After exams and interviews, Chitosi made it to Harbin Engineering University in northeast China, and acquired his bachelor's degree there. "I really appreciate that the Chinese government gave me a chance to study in China," Chitosi said, "And after graduation, I was thinking about whether I can keep studying and using what I learn in China to contribute to the development of my mother country."

Therefore, Chitosi chose Beijing Jiaotong University for further education. He now majored in civil engineering, with a research interest in aseismic design. "Malawi sits in the middle of the Great Rift Valley, so any possible earthquake may cause serious damage to our country," explained Chitosi. "Besides, many buildings in Malawi, including the building of the best university in Malawi – Malawi University of Science and Technology – were built perfectly and swiftly by the Chinese government. So I was thinking that I could learn such technology in China to better help my country."

Chitosi said his dream is to build many beautiful and stable houses in Malawi. "I want to build apartments, office buildings, hospitals and schools." When talking about his dream, Chitosi's eyes are filled with determination, "I want every kid in Malawi to be able to study in a school."

During the visit this time in Diqing, Yunnan, Chitosi paid special attention to different houses built by local people. "I will focus first on the structure, strength and stability of a house." Chitosi said when visiting a local Tibetan house, "In Malawi, a grown man must build his own house, which is a similar tradition to the one here in Tibetan culture. For me, I want to build my house with bamboo in the future, for bamboo is good in mechanical properties, deformation resistance and strength." He also hopes to apply the Chinese mortise-tenon connection to his future houses.

Before leaving, Chitosi tightly held the hands of the Tibetan roadbuilder, Sina Dingzhu, "Thank you so much. I thought it was impossible to change the world on one's own, but you prove to me that even one individual can do something great."