SAY FOUNDATION INTRODUCTION
SAY FOUNDATION, initially founded by Li Xianyi (Li Yaya) in Zanzibar, is a non-governmental organization (NGO). Its primary mission is to provide resource linkage opportunities, free education, balance educational resources, and humanitarian assistance.
Free Language Education: SAY’s founder has been offering free Chinese language courses for a decade. During this time, the organization has assisted hundreds of Zanzibar students in pursuing studies in China. Many of these students were on the margins of society, facing challenging circumstances, and some were even homeless. While Chinese language courses cannot solve all their problems, students have been inspired and helped by their interactions with kind and diligent volunteers. This has given them the motivation and direction to work towards changing their own destinies.
Establishment of SAY: By providing ten years of free Chinese language education and a platform for volunteers to empower vulnerable groups, we have witnessed the growth and transformation of our students. Over the past six years, we have gained a deep understanding of the education situation in poverty-stricken areas of Zanzibar and the needs of different groups. Based on this experience, we established the SINO-AFRICA YOUTH FOUNDATION and registered the SAC: SINO-AFRICA CULTURAL CENTER school.
Education Assistance Program: In early 2022, we launched an orphan assistance program in four communities in Central Zanzibar (Jemdele, Cheju/Dunga, Chwaka) and introduced a multimedia Chinese language classroom. This program aims to provide long-term public education and food assistance in the field of basic education in Zanzibar.
In March 2023, the results of our teacher training program led to the formal inclusion of Chinese language in the national education system of Zanzibar. Chinese became a mandatory foreign language subject in secondary schools, including Kiponda Secondary School, and an elective foreign language subject in seven other secondary schools.
Volunteer Service Stations: In 2023, with the support of the Zanzibar government, we were granted permission to establish SAY’s volunteer service stations in eight secondary schools. These schools offer Chinese language courses, Chinese early reading tutoring, free breakfast and lunch, as well as cultural and sports empowerment programs. The work at these volunteer service stations includes training local teachers, assisting local teachers in teaching Chinese, providing cultural and sports programs, allowing students to develop more comprehensively. Eight schools and 346 teachers and students receive support from this program, including: free education and educational materials; daily breakfast and lunch at school.
What We Are Doing Now: Training Local Teachers (TOT) The first step is training teachers in Chinese: Training primary and secondary school teachers in Zanzibar in Chinese courses and Chinese teaching. The second step is Chinese language teaching assistance. The trainees return to eight schools to teach Chinese courses.
The TOT training program was launched in 2022, and currently, 14 teachers from eight secondary schools have completed their training. Chinese was officially included in the national education system of Zanzibar in March 2023, becoming a mandatory foreign language subject in secondary schools, including Kiponda Secondary School, and an elective foreign language subject in seven other secondary schools.
The third step is to train students to become volunteers and serve as project implementers for SAY in Zanzibar. After completing an international volunteer training program, TOT trainees become volunteers at SAY’s volunteer service stations. Starting in September 2023, they are responsible for Chinese early reading classroom tutoring, teaching Chinese courses, volunteering for free breakfast and lunch, and participating in youth cultural and sports empowerment projects conducted by SAY in Zanzibar.
Future Plans: Our next steps include Expanding the coverage of Chinese and multidisciplinary education courses, enriching the basic education in Zanzibar. This program will be expanded to more primary and secondary schools and remote villages from 2023 to 2028, providing students with Chinese and other educational opportunities, increasing multicultural exchange, and organizing daily Chinese early reading classes.
Continuing the development of SAY volunteer service stations, establishing service stations in schools and communities, implementing free lunch programs for impoverished students, orphans, and other disadvantaged youth. Additionally, we will launch cultural and sports programs, such as football and art empowerment, to help young people in Zanzibar grow more comprehensively.
Organization Accreditation School: Sino-Africa Culture Center Address: P.O. Box 3718, At: Shangani, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania Phone (WhatsApp): +255778655330 Email: lixianyialice@gmail.com Registration Number: Z00000127382 Tax ID: 154-084-509 Address: SH/UZ/163/J TONMONDO, Western Region Zanzibar, Tanzania
Click each word to learn via sentences.
Pronounciation: Wǒ
English: I
Pronounciation: Nǐ
English: You
Pronounciation: Tā
English: He/She
Pronounciation: Shì
English: am/are/is
Pronounciation: Xuéxiào
English: school
Pronounciation: Xuéshēng
English: student
那位学生在图书馆用功读书。 (Nà wèi xuéshēng zài túshūguǎn yònggōng dúshū.) Translation: That student is studying diligently at the library.
我们的学生会组织了一场精彩的活动。 (Wǒmen de xuéshēng huì zǔzhīle yī chǎng jīngcǎi de huódòng.) Translation: Our student association organized a fantastic event.
这位学生在数学竞赛中获得了第一名。 (Zhè wèi xuéshēng zài shùxué jìngsài zhōng huòdéle dì yī míng.) Translation: This student won first place in the math competition.
学生们正在学校操场上锻炼身体。 (Xuéshēngmen zhèngzài xuéxiào cāochǎng shàng duànliàn shēntǐ.) Translation: The students are exercising on the school playground.
这个学生对环保问题非常关心。 (Zhège xuéshēng duì huánbǎo wèntí fēicháng guānxīn.) Translation: This student is very concerned about environmental issues.
This program is intended to …
If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact
Prof. Li Yaya at liyayaalice@gmail.com.