By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, June 24 (232News) – As a means of bridging the language barrier between Sierra Leone and China, Small Small Chinese, an organisation that has been teaching Chinese language via social media has introduced the study of the Chinese language using the Small Small Chinese method to schools.
At an official launching ceremony on Friday 18th June at the Jarwlee Lewis Nursery and Preparatory School, Adelaide Street – Freetown, children demonstrated their skills of the Chinese language.
Small Small Chinese Director, Ibrahim Bangura, gave a brief background about the formation of Small Small Chinese and how they intend to make it reaches other institutions.
He said Small Small Chinese was introduced in Jarwlee Lewis Nursery school three months ago and the kids are doing well with the language.
Sierra Leone China Friendship Association (SALCHA) Chairperson Mrs. Onike King described the moved as a means of bringing Chinese closer to Sierra Leone as language plays an important role in the lives of people.
She said the launched is just the beginning of greater harvest as more schools will be enroll in the learning process.
She commended the good work of Ambassador Hu and team for making Sierra Leone their second home.
Mrs. King said Small Small Chinese was founded by Mariatu Kargbo and it came about helping people to have easy access to Chines whenever they visit China or want to do transactions.
Representing Ambassador Hu, Chinese Embassy Acting Director of Political Department, Zhang Yuigui extended the embassy sincere gratitude and congratulations to Sierra Leone China Friendship Association (SALCHA), Small Small Chinese Team and your esteemed School on successfully introducing the study of the Chinese language.
He described China as a country with more than 5,000 years of civilization. In the past decades, as China’s door opened more widely to the world, Chinese language has been more and more popular and widely used around the globe. At Present, about 200 million people outside China are taking Chinese as one of their main languages. Chinese has been designated as the official language of many international organizations including the United Nations.
“Today we are glad to see more and more Sierra Leonean students have enthusiasm to learn Chinese language, which allows our two peoples to better understand each other and promotes cultural exchanges and learning between our two countries”
He went on to say China and Sierra Leone enjoy long-standing profound friendship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past 50 years, China and Sierra Leone have always treated each other as of one family who share weal and woe with mutual understanding. Since I first arrived in this most beautiful country, my Salone colleagues and friends have kept saying to me that Sierra Leone and China are not only friends but also true brothers and sisters.”
He pointed out that as the goodwill messengers, the Chinese Embassy, the Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone China Friendship Association, Small Small Chinese, and the Chinese community in Sierra Leone have been making unremitting efforts to further deepen China-Sierra Leone friendship and strengthen people-to-people ties through concrete actions.
“Today’s launching ceremony is very much in tune with the building of an even stronger China-Sierra Lone community with a shared future. We are so happy to see the passion and love of these lively and cute kids for China and its language, as well as culture. And I am convinced that China-Sierra Leone friendship’s tomorrow will be better with each and everyone of our two countries including all of us here exerting our combined efforts. Therefore, let us go alone as the motto of this school “Be Faithful In All Your Doings” and the Small Small Chinese “Giving Back To The World”. Wish today’s event will be a complete success and everyone here all the best.”
Earlier, a welcome remark was given by the Head Teacher of Jarwlee Lewis Nursery and Preparatory School, Mrs. Janet Sefoi.
The kids demonstrated some of their skills through performance at the ceremony. The Chinese Embassy prepared a stationery set for each kid, hoping to be useful for their study.
