Avic International Project Engineering Company Copperbelt regional manager Han Fuxin (2nd left) handed over the resurfaced car park to the Chingola Adult Skills Center. (Xinhua /Nkweto Mfula)
Chinese firm AVIC-INTL is commended by Zambians for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, apart from its huge contribution to the improvement of infrastructure in Zambia's Chingola city.
CHINGOLA, Zambia, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- "We thank Avic International for extending a helping hand to our school for the donations of books and school bags as well as for resurfacing the school car park," said Antoinette Kabangala, a pupil at Zambia's Chingola School for Continuing Education.
In a vote of thanks, Antoinette said the Chinese company's donation of teaching and learning materials over the weekend will go a long way in helping the pupils to concentrate on their studies.
She said some vulnerable pupils lacked school bags and the donation will motivate them to concentrate at school.
With a grinning face, the pupil expressed happiness that Avic was giving back to the community.
Avic is not only committed to upgrading the roads but also to contributing to the wellbeing of the learners in Zambia.
"Some of the pupils' fathers are employees at Avic International, so this donation is meant to support us children, as learners at this school," she said.
The total value of the donated goods was around 8,500 U.S. dollars, an equivalent of over K110,000, the local currency.
AVIC International Project Engineering Company Copperbelt regional manager Han Fuxin (2nd left) hands over the donated teaching and learning materials to acting Chingola district commissioner Maxmillan Makasa at the Chingola Adult Skills Center. (Xinhua/Nkweto Mfula)
Han Fuxin, Copperbelt regional Avic manager said the Chinese firm has been providing technical and financial assistance to various institutions in Chingola on the Copperbelt province, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
"As part of our company's Corporate Social Responsibility, our company decided to provide assistance in learning materials as well as the resurfaced car park at the school, we are very pleased to observe the successful completion of the construction works," he said.
According to Han, Avic is supporting the development efforts by the communities of Chingola, in the fields of basic human needs through other Zambian government institutions such as health care and education.
Education is needless to say, one of the important sectors for the socio-economic development of Zambia, he said.
In 2016, the Zambian government upgraded some primary schools into secondary schools to increase the secondary school spaces in the district, following the high number of dropouts due to limited secondary school spaces.
"What Avic has done shows how the Chinese company values education in Zambia, they are committed to supplementing the Zambian government's efforts to lift the learning standards in the district and the country as a whole," said acting district education board secretary Ng'ambi Phiri.
Phiri is optimistic that the Chinese company will also extend its CSR support to other schools in the district.
Marjory Simuchimba, a head-teacher at Chingola School for Continuing Education, said: "what we have been seeing is Avic working on the roads in Chingola, but now they have worked on our car park and also donated text and exercise books as well as school bags for our pupils."
Avic was contracted by the Zambia government to work on selected urban roads in Chingola in 2016. Much progress has been done on road works by the Chinese firm, according to Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo.
Tembo is optimistic that by 2020 the mining district will attain its city status following the rehabilitated roads in Chingola.
