Tola Tsegaye Alemu (R) from Ethiopia operates an industrial robot under the guidance of a teacher in Tianjin University of Technology and Education in north China's Tianjin, June 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

　　* The skills that carried African competitors to skills competitions like the World Vocational College Skills Competition are among the everyday subjects in classrooms that China and Africa run together. For some, success in competition has opened the door to employment.

　　* Young Africans across the continent are gaining practical skills as China-Africa cooperation in vocational education continues to grow. For many, mastering a skill is ultimately about finding a job, or even starting a business. The longer game is not training one class of students, but enabling African schools to train their own.

　　by Liu Jie and Lin Jing

　　WINDHOEK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- In a workshop in Ongwediva, northern Namibia, fabric rustles as Wilhemina Amadhila measures, cuts and stitches.

　　"Each stitch comes together to form a stunning outfit," said the 22-year-old woman who will take the craft to the 48th WorldSkills Competition to be held on Sept. 22-27 in Shanghai, China.

　　Amadhila and 16 other young Namibians will compete in different categories of the competition. Besides Namibia, other African countries such as Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Morocco are also taking part in the contest to showcase their technical and vocational skills.