A young Nairobi woman has won the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to her knowledge of China and a little dance. Ruth Kimani beat off 15 contestants to scoop the prize.

Ruth Wakuhi Kimani from Confucius Institute of Nairobi University performs a Chinese dance during the 15th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students Kenya Division in Nairobi, Kenya, May 23, 2016. With the theme "Dreams Enlighten the Future", the 15th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students Kenya Division was held in Nairobi. Ruth Wakuhi Kimani from Confucius Institute of Nairobi University won the contest and earned herself the ticket to the world final in China. [Photo: Xinhua/Sun Ruibo]

It was a celebration of the ties between Kenya and China, and it was also a serious business. The contestants had to impress with their talents and their knowledge of China and their hope for the future. In fact, the theme of this year’s Chinese Proficiency competition is “Dreams Enlighten The Future.” The contestants had no doubt about the importance of the occasion.

“With my course, the work that I am going to be doing, there will be interaction with the Chinese because I have been seeing they have been doing various developments. With what I have learnt, if I merge it with Chinese, I will be able to make a difference in our country,” said Alan Mugambi, student of Jomo Kenyatta University.

“It was refreshing. For once getting a chance to talk to people sharing my dreams and my talents. I think I performed my best because I tried my best,” said Faith Wanjiru Mwangi, student of MOI University.

China’s embassy in Kenya and the Confucius Institute here in Nairobi sponsored the event. There were various categories of winners, among them, the most charming. The winning performance tells the story of a Kenyan girl who loves China, Ruth Kimani’s own story.

“My dad was working with Chinese people but they were not communicating even a bit because of the language barrier. I got interested and fired up. I think I have to break this barrier,” said Ruth Kimani, student of Nairobi University.