Vocational education: Empowering youth with technical skills
In October 2021, the Kabada Community Industrial Technical School broke ground as part of a key initiative led by SICOMINES – a joint venture formed by China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and Power Construction Corporation of China – and the General Mining Company of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Students learn technical skills at the Kabada Community Industrial Technical School. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Today, the school, with an enrollment of 206 students, offers programs in electricity and automotive repair, making it an important base for cultivating technical talent in the region.
The school has established a new path for the integration of vocational education and industry, allowing many young people in Kabada village to learn technical skills like electrics and automotive repair without leaving their hometowns.
Upon graduation, these students will have gained valuable skills and be in with a good chance of securing skilled positions in major companies.
Agricultural technology: Cultivating sustainable harvests
Corn is a staple food for the communities around where SICOMINES operates. Many villagers rely on corn farming for their livelihood. However, local farmers have historically struggled with low yields due to insufficient resources such as funding, seeds, fertilizer and lack of access to modern agricultural training.
Improving corn production and achieving self-sufficiency has long been a wish of the local people. Through the Corn Support Project, SICOMINES is helping local villagers turn this dream into reality.
Local villagers have achieved increased corn yields. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Healthcare: Enhancing access to quality medical services
The Luishia Town Health Center, once a vital but deteriorating medical facility, faced significant challenges due to aging infrastructure, including broken ceilings, crumbling walls, aging water pipes and a lack of basic medical equipment.
Luisha Mining Simplified Co., in collaboration with the local community development committee, developed a detailed renovation plan. This included repairing the prenatal consultation clinic, refurbishing multiple walls, upgrading sanitation facilities and constructing a new maternity ward.
These improvements significantly enhanced local healthcare services, providing stronger support for preventive care, vaccinations, consultations, maternity care and postnatal follow-up treatment.
The renovated Luishia Town Health Center [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Cultural preservation: Revitalizing Khiva’s ancient city in Uzbekistan
Khiva, a historic city on the route of the ancient Silk Road, once witnessed the flourishing exchange between East and West. The Khiva Ancient City restoration project, in which CREC’s Research Institute participated, is part of China’s aid efforts in Uzbekistan.
The Khiva Ancient City restoration project [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
During the restoration, the team studied local history and trained local craftsmen, creating a new model for localized cooperation in restoring religious and cultural heritage. In addition to addressing structural issues, the project breathed new life into the 18th-century city, turning it into a key cultural hub for the region.
The restoration has received praise in both China and Uzbekistan.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
