STORY: Third-grader wins "Chinese Bridge" competition in Kenya
SHOOTING TIME: June 2, 2024
DATELINE: June 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:57
LOCATION: NAKURU, Kenya
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Precious Atieno reading news with parents
2. various of Precious Atieno dancing during "Chinese Bridge" Competition
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PRECIOUS ATIENO, Winner of "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show Competition in Kenya
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DENNICE OJUANG, Precious Atieno's father
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PHANUEL IMBUSI, Headmaster from Lions Primary School in Nakuru
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PRECIOUS ATIENO, Winner of "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show Competition in Kenya
7. various of Precious Atieno talking with teacher

STORYLINE:

Precious Atieno, a third-grader at Kilimo Primary School in Nakuru, Kenya, won first place at the 4th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show Competition for foreign primary school students in Kenya. 

Her achievement earned her a spot to compete in China in October.

Precious beat 17 contestants from different schools in the East Africa Country. She said Chinese dance is her favorite part of learning the Chinese language and culture.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English/Chinese): PRECIOUS ATIENO, Winner of "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show Competition in Kenya
"Chinese is one of the subjects that we learn at school, and we learn on Fridays and Thursdays. Hello, dear teachers and classmates, I am Precious."

Precious shared that winning was not easy, requiring significant practice. She expressed gratitude for her patient and understanding teacher who supported her throughout the journey.

Precious's parents, who are small business traders, have been supportive of their daughter's Chinese studies.

When they saw Precious's photo in Kenya's largest newspaper after the competition, they felt very proud.  

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): DENNICE OJUANG, Precious Atieno's father
"I'm very, very grateful for this day, especially today. Because I have seen the paper today, June 2, 2024, my daughter appears in the newspaper. Since I was born, I have never appeared in any newspaper, so she has done us proud as a family."

Precious Atieno's dream resonates with many Kenyans. With the establishment of the Confucius Institute at Egerton University in 2012, the institute has set up seven teaching sites in Nakuru. In the last decade, over 15,000 students have received training through these initiatives.
     
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PHANUEL IMBUSI, Headmaster from Lions Primary School in Nakuru
"Atieno's win is my win. Atieno's win is Nakuru's win. Atieno's win is Kenya's win. You'll see the children are enthusiastic and eager to learn the subject, so there is much more, a lot of the vast in culture and very particular about it, they do it so well."
   
SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PRECIOUS ATIENO, Winner of "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Show Competition in Kenya
"I started learning Chinese last year and I like how the Chinese dance, how they speak their language. I like the music, how it sounds. I can even sing, so that makes me relax and happy."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nakuru, Kenya.
(XHTV)