As 2026 marks the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges and the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic ties between China and African countries, the deepening bonds between the two regions are being vividly illustrated by a new generation of African youth pursuing their aspirations in China. One of those stories belongs to Marwa, a medical student from the Comoros now charting her own path at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU).

Hailing from a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, Marwa describes her journey as “an unexpected road” — one that brought her thousands of miles away from home and into the very classrooms once walked by her father, who also studied neurology at Sun Yat-sen University years ago.

“My father once stood exactly where I stand today,” she says. “He experienced the same pressure, the same uncertainty, and the same hope.”

Now pursuing medical studies at SYSU, Marwa has developed a strong interest in anatomy and clinical medicine. Yet adapting to a new language, a demanding academic environment, and a life far from home has not always been easy.

“Learning every bone in Chinese takes real effort,” she admits. “There were moments when I questioned myself and wondered whether I truly belonged here.”

Whenever homesickness and academic pressure became overwhelming, Marwa would turn to her father for encouragement. Having gone through a similar journey himself decades prior, he understood her struggles with a deep, unspoken empathy.

Beyond the classroom, the warmth of friends and professors has helped her gradually find confidence and belonging in China. From late-night conversations to sharing hot pot meals on campus, these vibrant slices of daily life at SYSU have become vital to her personal growth.

“Every time I overcome a difficult lesson, it feels like winning a small battle,” she says. “I realized that although I am far from home, I am building a new sense of home here.”

For Marwa, studying medicine is not only about professional achievement, but also about a deeper sense of responsibility. After graduation, she hopes to return home and provide medical care for underserved communities with limited access to healthcare resources.

As educational and cultural exchanges between China and Africa continue to deepen, Marwa’s story reflects a new generation of young people building authentic global bridges through shared aspirations, learning, and genuine connection.

“This journey is difficult sometimes,” she says, “but perhaps the road you are walking is exactly the one meant for you.”

Source:PEARL

一对科摩罗父女的中大学医梦

穆慧琳来自印度洋上的岛国科摩罗，她打趣道：“这是一个如果你在地图上搜寻时眨了眨眼，就可能会错过的微小岛国。”然而，命运却将她带到了千里之外的广州。她将这段旅程形容为“一条预料之外的道路”，因为这不仅是一次跨国求学，更是一场与父辈的时空重逢。多年前，她的父亲也曾在这片校园里步履匆匆，攻读医科。“父亲曾站在和我完全相同的位置，”穆慧琳说，“他走过我现在经过的走廊，或许也曾像我现在一样，有过迷茫，但同样满怀希望。”

穆慧琳的父亲穆萨医生（Dr. Msa Mliva）是第一个留学中国的科摩罗人。1982年，他先赴北京语言文化大学学习汉语，随后进入广州中医药大学攻读本科，并于1989年毕业回国，成为科摩罗最早一批中西医结合领域的医生。

“回国后，我发现很多病人患有神经系统疾病，而当时科摩罗没有神经科专科医生。”穆萨医生回忆道。为了精进医术，他于1992年再次回到中国，进入中山医科大学第一附属医院神经内科进修，直至1995年。那一纸进修证书，见证了他从中医毕业生到神经专科医生的蜕变。

回国后，他在首都莫罗尼的中央医院创立了神经内科门诊，成为该领域的开拓者。2000年，因在公共卫生领域的卓越表现，他被总统任命为科摩罗卫生部卫生总局局长。此后，他进入世界卫生组织非洲公共卫生学院攻读硕士，并于2010年起担任世卫组织国家卫生系统与服务国家专业官员。如今，他不仅是世卫组织驻科摩罗的代表，也是科摩罗-中国友好协会的会长，持续推动两国在医疗与文化领域的交流。

然而，追随父亲的足迹也意味着穆慧琳要独自面对异国求学的重重难关。用中文攻读临床医学专业给她带来了极大的挑战，尤其是记住所有复杂的解剖学和骨骼名称需要付出加倍的努力。起初，繁重的学业压力与远离家乡的孤独，曾让她陷入深深的自我怀疑。幸运的是，学校里无处不在的温暖帮她重新找到了节奏。从教授们毫无保留的耐心指导，到与朋友围坐吃火锅、倾心长谈的温馨日常，异乡的清冷被逐渐抚热。“每次弄懂一个难懂的知识点，就像是打了一场小小的胜仗，”穆慧琳分享道，“我虽远离家乡，但正在这里构筑起自己的另一个‘家’。”

对于穆慧琳而言，学医不仅承载着个人梦想，更是一份沉甸甸的全球责任。毕业后，她渴望回到医疗资源相对匮乏的家乡地区，去守护那些难以获得医疗救助的患者。

穆慧琳坦言，中山大学不仅赋予了她治病救人的专业底气，更将“医病医身医心，救国救民救世”的精神深刻烙印在她的灵魂深处。

站在未来的入口，穆慧琳也给所有对前路感到迷茫的同行者留下了一份坚定的寄语：“那些难熬的日子和迷茫的时刻，我都愿意扛过去，因为某一天当病人需要我时，我一定会做好万全准备。如果你正感到前路未知，别害怕，勇敢前进。因为你正在走的路，或许正通往你本该抵达的地方。”

2026年正值“中非人文交流年”，新一代非洲青年在中国追逐梦想的故事，正成为中非友好交流的生动缩影。

文、图|记者 王倩 通讯员 冯贤哲
视频｜通讯员 夏雯蕙 余安东 刘馨远