Latest news with #SunYi
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Feature: Chinese-built hydropower projects foster talent development in Cote d'Ivoire
by Xinhua writers Sun Yi, Zhang Jian ABIDJAN, June 7 (Xinhua) -- As the rainy season settles over southwestern Cote d'Ivoire, the Sassandra River swells with renewed vigor. In the early morning mist, workers in uniforms and hard hats move with purpose through the Gribo-Popoli Hydroelectric Power Plant, inspecting spillways, monitoring water levels, and checking equipment. Among them is 32-year-old Bassirou Konate, a quality inspector who began his career nearly a decade ago. "When I first joined the Chinese-built hydropower project, I could barely read the blueprints," Konate recalled. "But a Chinese mentor was assigned to me. Step by step, he taught me everything." Konate began his career in 2016 at the Soubre Hydroelectric Power Plant, a project also built by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina). Since then, he has contributed to several major infrastructure initiatives and become a key member of the team building the Gribo-Popoli hydropower plant. "What I learned in school was theory," he said. "It was these projects that gave me hands-on experience. Now, I can support my family. I see a future not only for myself but for my community." Situated on one of Cote d'Ivoire's major rivers, the Gribo-Popoli station is part of a series of hydropower projects. The Sassandra River, with its abundant flow and favorable elevation gradients, holds vast potential for renewable energy. After completing the Soubre Hydroelectric Power Plant in 2017, PowerChina saw all three generating units at Gribo-Popoli come online by November 2024, unlocking even more hydropower capacity for the country. Yet, the energy these projects generate extends beyond electricity -- it is also empowering the growth of local talent. Dozens of Ivorian workers who began their careers at Soubre, like Konate, have since stepped into critical roles at Gribo-Popoli as quality inspectors, technicians, and supervisors. Their growing expertise is powering a new chapter in national infrastructure, one driven not just by machines, but by the skilled hands of local professionals. Hou Bing, chief engineer of the Gribo-Popoli Hydroelectric Power Plant, said the project created roughly 2,000 direct jobs during its construction phase and supported an additional 1,000 through related industries. "These projects are more than worksites. They are schools, places where Ivorian workers gain skill and confidence," Hou noted. "Knowledge is passed on along with the trust between our peoples. Together, we are building not only dams but bridges of friendship." Yao Michel N'Guessan's story mirrors that of Konate. Fresh out of school when he joined the Soubre project, N'Guessan began with little more than textbook knowledge. "Chinese engineers taught me how to install and maintain electrical systems," he said. Through on-the-job training, he steadily mastered the complexities of construction. Today, he leads a construction team at Gribo-Popoli. "What I gained from my Chinese mentors wasn't just skills," he said. "They taught me discipline, responsibility, and precision. We're not just workers anymore. We're nation-builders." As night falls, lights flicker on across the Gribo-Popoli Hydroelectric Power Plant, casting a warm glow over the Sassandra River. The dam and power station stand not only as engineering feats but as enduring symbols of partnership between China and Cote d'Ivoire.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seattle author Tessa Hulls wins Pulitzer for debut graphic memoir
[Source] Seattle-based Chinese American author Tessa Hulls has won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for memoir or autobiography for her graphic memoir 'Feeding Ghosts.' About Hulls and her book: 'Feeding Ghosts,' which reportedly took Hulls nearly a decade to complete, chronicles three generations of Chinese women in her family, beginning with her grandmother Sun Yi, a persecuted journalist who fled China's communist government with her daughter Rose — Hulls' mother — to Hong Kong. The book details how Sun Yi wrote a bestselling memoir before suffering a mental breakdown, and examines the trauma passed through generations. The Pulitzer committee described it as 'an affecting work of literary art and discovery whose illustrations bring to life three generations of Chinese women.' 'Shocked and grateful': In an Instagram post on Sunday, Hulls said she felt 'shocked and grateful' while acknowledging the emotional toll of creating the work. 'The nine years I spent living within my family's story nearly broke me with their isolation,' she noted. Hulls also reflected on her creative journey through a literary reference, writing, 'When magic dies, it sometimes dies forever; but new and different magic grows when you view what fell as a nurse log, ready to feed new life.' Hulls, who also recently won the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize among other accolades, has stepped back from public life temporarily. 'If you need me, I'll be in the mountains; I'll come back down when I'm ready,' she wrote. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
The Hidden Hands Behind Cheap Chinese Goods
Commentary In 2012, a woman in Oregon opened a box of Halloween decorations from Kmart. Tucked inside was a scrap of paper, scrawled in broken English with a desperate plea: 'If you occasionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the World Human Rights Organization.' It described long hours, beatings, a brutal Chinese labor camp. The writer, Sun Yi, an engineer and husband, had been jailed for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline outlawed by the Chinese Communist Party. I told Sun Yi's story in my documentary ' Today, we are caught up in tariffs, trade wars, and supply chain fixes. It is all about inflation, market access, political leverage. But we are missing the heart of it. Behind those bargain-bin trinkets are lives. While Sun Yi found a way to speak out, most are trapped in factories behind walls, silenced by fear. I do not mean to paint China with a broad brush. Not every item made in China is through I am no economist. Whether tariffs are sound trade policies is for others to debate. But I know this: tariffs will not fix what is broken in those camps. They are about numbers. Markets do not feel the prisoner's pain. The threats. The silence. Justice is not a price adjustment. Related Stories 2/22/2019 12/10/2018 The power is with us. Consumers, businesses, investors. We decide what is acceptable. When we ask where our stuff comes from, when companies demand clean supply chains, when investors value ethics alongside profit, things shift. That is not radical. It is responsible. It says values matter, even in a global economy. Governments can help. The It is tempting to think cheaper is always better. But what is the real cost? In that labor camp, Sun Yi knew the risks of his defiance. He believed in us. His letter sparked headlines. His story lives on. Now that we know, the question is not what the market will do. It is what we will do. Policies will shift. Politics will change. But acting with conscience does not need to wait. It starts here. With us. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
