From August 6 to 11, 2026, the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" China-Africa Youth Mombasa-Nairobi Railway Humanistic Care Initiative Week for the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway was successfully held in Nairobi, Mombasa, and other locations in Kenya. As one of the flagship projects of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the event was hosted by the Beijing Changier Education Foundation and co-hosted by the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD). It also received support from multiple organizations, including the Zhejiang · Africa Service Center, StarTimes, DTI, World Geospatial Information Home, and MAMA AFRICAN. Centered on themes such as maternal love education, life and health, women's empowerment, and youth exchange, the event featured a variety of activities, including an opening ceremony, the unveiling of a research center, the launch of public welfare projects, roundtable dialogues, school visits, and community interactions, fostering deeper understanding and friendship between Chinese and African youth through real-world engagement.

Opening Ceremony Brings Together Chinese and Kenyan Stakeholders as Multiple Mechanisms Launch Simultaneously

The opening ceremony of the Action Week was held on the afternoon of August 7 at the AICAD, located within Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, Kenya. Approximately 80 attendees participated, including representatives from Chinese and Kenyan government agencies, friendship organizations, educational institutions, enterprises, youth representatives, and media. Attendees included Secretary General Hao Zhongwei of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Zhang Zhizhong, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya; Zhang Changchun, Second-Level Inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; and Zhang Yinjun, President of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation. Kenyan representatives from government, education, public welfare, and business sectors also attended, including Hon. Innocent Mugabe, M.P., member of the Kenyan Parliament; Prof. James Njiru, Executive Director of the AICAD; Prof. Joseph Wafula of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology; Hon. Jackline Kibosia, a legal expert on children's affairs in Kenya; Ms. Lydia Muleyi, a clinical psychologist and protection specialist; Mr. Walter Muonde, a gender issues expert and researcher; and Ms. Evelyn Kikuyu, a child protection specialist.

In his speech, Hao Zhongwei stated that the foundation of China-Africa friendship lies in the people, while its future lies in the youth. He noted that this action was a positive response to the spirit of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and that it would contribute the strength of young people to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

Zhang Zhizhong noted that the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway is a flagship project of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. He said that carrying out people-to-people care initiatives targeting young people would help bring the stories along the railway to life and deepen China-Kenya friendship among the public.

In her speech, Zhang Yinjun stated that the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" project uses the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway as a bond, focusing on maternal love education, life and health, women's empowerment, and youth exchange. She said the project is dedicated to promoting joint participation, shared experiences, and mutual growth among Chinese and African youth. She noted that while infrastructure construction transforms development space, human care warms the distance between people. She expressed hope that the project would build a bridge of "heart-to-heart connectivity" along the railway, among schools and communities, and between young people, allowing friendship to continue through action and responsibility to grow through exchange.

Professor James Njiru emphasized that AICAD has long been committed to capacity building, knowledge exchange, talent development, and development cooperation. He noted that this collaboration with the Beijing Changier Education Foundation aligns with AICAD's institutional mission of supporting capacity development in Africa, while also responding to Kenya's practical needs in youth growth, family education, child development, life and health, and community welfare.

Hon. Innocent Mugabe, M.P., stated that Kenya-China friendship is reflected not only in major infrastructure projects and economic and trade cooperation, but also in concrete actions that directly benefit youth, women, children, and families. He said the action responds to Kenya's practical needs in youth growth, women's empowerment, and family welfare, describing it as a highly important issue in Kenya's social development. He noted that the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" initiative brings life and health education, women's empowerment, family care, and youth exchange to Kenya, reflecting respect for and responsiveness to grassroots social needs in Kenya, while injecting new warmth into China-Kenya people-to-people friendship and cooperation.

In a subsequent session, Zhang Zhichun (first from the right in the photo) fully affirmed the opening ceremony event, stating that he would continue to support Beijing-based civil organizations in conducting people-to-people exchanges with Africa. He said this would help advance cooperation in youth development, education, and public welfare, further deepening China-Kenya friendship.

The opening ceremony was hosted bilingually in Chinese and English, centering on the theme "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity". The event featured a series of segments, including guest speeches, presentation of the project's implementation plan, a center inauguration, the unveiling of the supermarket project, sharing by youth representatives, the release of a joint declaration by Chinese and African youth, a roundtable discussion, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the office.

The opening ceremony began with a theme video for the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" action week. Produced entirely in AI animation, the video used the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway as its narrative thread, weaving together themes of life and health education, maternal love education, women's empowerment, community care, and China-Africa youth exchange. It connected key locations including Nairobi, Amboseli, and Mombasa, vividly depicting the action week's overall route from the capital, across the savannah, to the coast, and outlining a vision of Chinese and African youth moving forward together in love and connected in heart.

The Maternal Love and Family Education Research Center, jointly established by the AICAD and the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, was officially inaugurated.

Prof. James Njiru Presents Adjunct Scientist Appointment Letter to Zhang Yinjun

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Yinjun and Prof. James Njiru jointly unveiled the AICAD-QAEF Mother Love and Family Education Research Center, marking the project's shift from event-based exchanges to institutionalized operation. Prof. James Njiru also presented Zhang Yinjun with an appointment certificate as an adjunct scientist of the AICAD, providing professional support for future academic research and public welfare initiatives.

President Zhang Yinjun and Ms. Luo Lingjuan, known as "MAMA AFRICAN", presented the "Changier Silk Road: MAMA AFRICAN Inclusive Supermarket" plaque to representatives of two beneficiary women's organizations in Mombasa.

President Zhang Yinjun and Prof. Joseph Wafula jointly presented commemorative medals to the first group of "Changier Silk Road Youth Partners."

At the same time, the "Changier Silk Road: MAMA AFRICAN Inclusive Supermarket" project was officially unveiled. Centered on women's empowerment, community commerce, inclusive support, and family well-being, the project aims to support African mothers, community women, and family development through more grounded and sustainable approaches. Zhang Yinjun and Luo Lingjuan, known as "MAMA AFRICAN", jointly unveiled the plaque and donated the first batch of goods and operational supplies to two women's organizations in Mombasa to support the development of the community inclusive supermarket. At the medal ceremony for the "Changier Silk Road Youth Partners," held after the opening ceremony, Zhang Yinjun and Prof. Joseph Wafula jointly presented medals to the first group of "Changier Silk Road Youth Partners", encouraging young people to continue participating in China-Africa friendship endeavors.

Chinese and Kenyan Youth Share Stories of Perseverance, Roundtable Dialogue Builds Consensus for the Road Ahead

During the youth sharing session at the opening ceremony, Jamlick Kariuki, a Kenyan youth representative and alumnus of Beijing Jiaotong University, shared his unforgettable experience studying in China. He said his educational experience in China not only gave him professional knowledge but also strengthened his resolve to serve Kenya and act as an envoy of China-Africa friendship. In his speech, Kariuki specifically recalled the memorable experience of joining others in writing a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping and receiving a reply. In January 2024, he and other Kenyan students and alumni in China jointly wrote to President Xi Jinping, expressing gratitude for the opportunities that China-Kenya cooperation had created for Kenyan youth in learning and development. In his reply, President Xi encouraged them to study hard, gain deeper understanding of China, contribute to the development of their home country, and become envoys of China-Africa friendship. Kariuki said he was deeply inspired after receiving President Xi's reply. From studying in China to pursuing a career in transportation engineering, and from joining the letter-writing effort to receiving President Xi's reply, his story serves as a vivid footnote to the values of people-to-people connectivity, youth partnership, and shared growth advocated by the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" initiative.

As a Chinese youth representative long engaged in public welfare, youth exchange, and international friendship work, Chou Shang-Guan shared his reflections from the perspectives of cultural understanding, charitable action, and companionship in friendship. He said that exchanges among young people not only deepen mutual understanding but also inspire greater goodwill, action, and cooperation.

Maritim Joseph Kibii, a senior civil engineer, 1987 alumnus of Beijing Jiaotong University, and the first Kenyan to study in China, drew on his 38 years of professional experience to explore the lessons China's development holds for Kenya, under the theme "strength must first come from within". Special guest Dr. Peris Njoki Mburu delivered a keynote speech on women's entrepreneurship empowerment, inclusive finance, community commercial ecosystem building, and China-Africa market connectivity. This session also echoed the "Changier Silk Road: MAMA AFRICAN Inclusive Supermarket" project, offering further practical perspectives for the project's future implementation in Kenyan communities.

Chinese and Kenyan Youth Representatives Jointly Read the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" China-Africa Youth Partnership Declaration

During the roundtable dialogue session, Chinese and Kenyan youth guests exchanged views on cultural understanding, shared aspirations among young people, charitable action, and future cooperation.

Chinese and Kenyan youth representatives then jointly released the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" China-Africa Youth Partnership Declaration, expressing their shared aspiration to move forward together and jointly promote development. During the roundtable dialogue "Youth Encounters: From Cultural Understanding to Friendship", four youth guests engaged in in-depth discussions on cross-cultural experiences, youth responsibility, and future cooperation. The dialogue covered four topics: "China Through My Eyes / Kenya Through My Eyes", "Shared Youth Across Different Cultures", "From Encounter to Action: What Can Young People Do Together", and "Carrying Friendship into the Future", with the atmosphere at the venue proving lively and enthusiastic.

Visiting Communities Along the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway: Charitable Care Put into Concrete Action

On August 6, ahead of the opening ceremony, the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" China-Africa Youth Mombasa-Nairobi Railway Humanistic Care Initiative officially launched in Kenya. The event began with a presentation of the Changier life and health education curriculum, giving Kenyan youth, teachers, and students an intuitive and vivid initial understanding of the program's educational philosophy. Guest representatives, teachers and students, and representatives of charitable organizations from China and Kenya gathered together for the occasion. Through video presentations and hands-on curriculum experiences, participants opened the action week's first in-depth exchange on education, health, charitable causes, and youth friendship.

Following this, guided by staff from StarTimes Media (Kenya) Company Limited, the delegation toured the company's facilities to learn about its development in Kenya, as well as the achievements of China-Kenya and China-Africa cooperation in media communication, digital television, and cultural exchange. Through the on-site visit, participants gained a more intuitive understanding of how Chinese enterprises have taken root in Kenya, served local society, and participated in China-Africa cultural communication and digital technology cooperation.

From August 8 to 9, the delegation traveled along the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, departing from Nairobi, passing through Amboseli, and arriving in Mombasa. More than 600 years ago, Zheng He's fleet visited the East African coast. Today, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway continues this connection between China and Africa across mountains and seas.

On August 10, the delegation visited Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training schools to engage with students and show care for them, donating backpacks, stationery, food, and other supplies to the children. The delegation also held an interactive magic teaching session, bringing warmth and laughter to local children.

On the same day, the delegation visited the Shelly Beach and Bamburi Beach communities, engaging in in-depth exchanges with local women's organizations, charitable organizations, and community representatives. During the visit, the delegation learned that local women generally hoped for more stable resource support, business training, market access, and organized development platforms. With the establishment of two "Changier Silk Road MAMA AFRICAN Inclusive Supermarkets", the initiative aims to support women's entrepreneurship and community development by providing goods and supplies, connecting market resources, supporting the operations of community women's organizations, and offering donations and skills training.

2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Prior to this, the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" project, submitted by the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, was included on the list of flagship projects for the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, making it the only Beijing-based project selected. Through a wealth of practical activities and solid outcomes, the "Changier Silk Road · Soft Connectivity" Action Week has injected new vitality into promoting friendly cooperation between the Chinese and African peoples. Going forward, the related mechanisms will continue to operate, further deepening exchanges between Chinese and African youth.

Attendees at the event included Guo Ying-Lan, chairperson of Taiwan's Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, and Chou Tian-Guan, head of its volunteer corps; Chou Shang-Guan, executive director of the Cross-Strait and International Exchange Center; Luo Lingjuan, founder of the MAMA AFRICAN brand; Ni Han, special representative for Africa at the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, and Wang Changkun, director of its international affairs department; as well as Changier international goodwill ambassadors and Chinese youth representatives Xue Jiachi, Zhang Jiahe, and Zhang Meiqi.