A 51-year-old Maasai with a thirst for knowledge

I still remember the first time I met Orkotete Lesongoyo. It was a scorching afternoon in 2024 — a dust-covered figure in a traditional Maasai red-checkered robe, yet his eyes sparkled with a thirst for knowledge.

Orkotete stood at the door of the classroom a bit shyly, and said in a soft voice in English, "I heard there is a geopark training course here. Can I join?" Although the number of trainees exceeded the planned total of 30, we gave him a definite yes, and he became the 40th participant.

It was the first day of the geopark tour guide training course and the second year of our technical assistance project for the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Tanzania. The three-year project is led by the Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, to revive the first and only global geopark in Tanzania, which was at that time on the verge of being excluded from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

Each time the 51-year-old participated in the course, he had to embark on a 150-kilometer motorcycle ride across rough dirt roads. These roads were pitted with holes, and when the rainy season arrived, they transformed into treacherous muddy bogs. While such a distance may not be a significant challenge for us city dwellers, it was, without doubt, a grueling expedition through the rural landscapes of Tanzania.

During the training course, Orkotete showed an amazing passion for learning. He always sat in the front row, carefully taking notes on every piece of knowledge. Whenever he didn't understand something, he would actively ask questions. And I remember Orkotete's eyes shone particularly brightly the day we discussed the formation process and geological features of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.

Orkotete told us: "I've grown up at the foot of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. I've looked at it every day, but it wasn't until today that I truly understood it."

He added, "Our ancestors have long known the importance of these stones and mountains. They passed down this knowledge orally from generation to generation."

Thanks to his participation, we also gained a precious local perspective to understand the culture and the people, allowing us to make more considerate planning.

After the training, Orkotete put the knowledge of geopark management and interpretation into practice, and we heard that he has now become one of the most popular geological tour guides in the area, with professional knowledge from the training as well as the unique enthusiasm and wisdom of the Maasai people.

Recently, the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania received a letter of thanks from Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, acknowledging that China's technical expertise "has significantly enhanced our capacity in geoheritage conservation and management".

I've come to deeply realize that the real significance of technical assistance doesn't lie in one-way technology transfer, but in stimulating the inner potential of local people.

Local people like Orkotete need not only knowledge but also opportunities and platforms. When they are given these, the enthusiasm for learning and practical ability they demonstrate often surpass our imagination, as the thirst for these things can overcome any obstacle, and the love for their hometown can create infinite possibilities. They are not just beneficiaries of the construction of the geopark, but also the backbone forces driving local sustainable development.

For me, stories like this are the most vivid portrayal of China-Tanzania friendship. Looking ahead, I believe that such cooperation will continue to deepen. With more local people being empowered, the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark will become a place of natural wonder, a model of sustainable development and a testament to transborder friendship.

Ren Junping, director of the Southern Africa Geological Survey Cooperation Center of Tianjin Center, China Geological Survey, spoke with China Daily reporter Li Menghan.