Training Organizers and participants

A training course on pottery production techniques for Sierra Leone was held recently to boost the livelihood of people, hence contributing to economic development. The event marked the attendance of over 100 people, including Mr. Zhang Xueqian, Economic and Commercial Counselor of Chinese Embassy, Mr. Sun Lingxiang, Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, Mr. Yankuba, Director of Asia and Middle East of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Songa, Deputy Director of Committee of Sierra Leone Parliament, councilors of Waterloo, program participants and local villagers.

The pottery training is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, executed by Hunan International Business Vocational College, and co-organized by Liling Ceramics & Fireworks Vocational College. Experts will share Chinese development experience and unreservedly pass on their theoretical and practical pottery making techniques. The training is held simultaneously in Waterloo and Lunsar for 45 days, with a total of 120 local trainees.

During the opening ceremony, Counselor Zhang Xueqian congratulated the pottery training on the successful start and stated that China has always been committed to helping Sierra Leone train talents, strengthening bilateral human resources development and cooperation, and playing an active role in improving the capability of independent development of Sierra Leone. As an innovative way and a new attempt, it is the first time that China has implemented such training in Sierra Leone for the purpose of benefiting more Sierra Leoneans. He also encouraged all the trainees to actively participate in class-teaching and practicing activities, study hard to improve the skills of making pottery, and urged Chinese experts to do their utmost to instruct trainees without reservations and feel the culture of Sierra Leone. Both experts and trainees are encouraged to promote bilateral exchange of culture and strengthen people-to-people ties, and this program is expected to be a platform of learning skills as well as deepening China-Sierra Leone friendship and cooperation.

Mr Yankuba expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and Chinese people for the long-term friendly cooperation, including providing the first pottery training program for Sierra Leoneans. This program, responding to His Excellency President Maada Bio’s “New Direction” policies regarding developing education, will open a new line of cooperation in the field of vocational education between the two countries. Through this program, techniques will be transferred to the trainees, jobs will be created for the youth and thus Sierra Leone will be industrialized and ultimately achieve socio-economic transformation.

National Stadium, Youyi Building, Bankasoka Hydropower Station etc witnessed the traditional friendship between China and Sierra Leone, Mr. Songa said, adding that such training will enables trainees to acquire knowledge that will be sustainable and assist lifting them and this country from poverty since China has a long history of producing fascinating pottery. Also, the traditional friendship and bilateral culture exchange will be further promoted.

Exchanges and cooperation between Hunan Province of China and Sierra Leone in the fields of public health, port construction and energy were introduced by Sun Lingxiang, and he also hoped this training would further deepen such exchanges and cooperation. Representative of councilors, Mr Ishmail, indicated that they would fully support the experts to conduct training. Mr Bangura, representing the trainees, showed his determination on valuing such opportunity, studying hard and living up to expectations.