Msua Primary School push that sparked a partnership

COAST REGION: WHAT began as a small act of kindness on a muddy village road has grown into a story of generosity and goodwill that continues to ripple through Tanzania’s Coast Region.

At the Herocean Industrial Park in Coast Region, teachers and pupils from Msua Primary School joined executives from Herocean Group and its joint venture company Dragon Oil Company for a special donation ceremony that celebrated the power of compassion and a rather memorable car rescue.

Hosting the cheerful event, the Chief Executive Officer Assistant Jasmine Jin from Herocean’s President’s Office, welcomed the guests with what she described as “a spring breeze of love and generosity.”

Those in attendance from Herocean included Project Managers Mr. Deng and Mr. Li, while Mr. Zhu, company general manager, Mr. Yang the procurement assistant, Mr. Li and Mr. Ma, factory technicians represented Dragon Oil.

From Msua Primary School came the Headteacher Pascal Shila and Academic Master Teacher James Kamili among other staff and some beaming pupils, who are the little heroes of this story.

An industrial park with a human heart

Before the applause could settle, the CEO Assistant Jasmine introduced the venue and that is the Herocean Industrial Park- a sprawling 170,000-square- metre hub already home to a lubricant oil factory, a vehicle workshop, and a CFS yard.

“This park is not just about machines and metal,” she said with a smile.

“It’s about people about growing together with our community.” She traced the group’s Tanzanian journey since 2010 from logistics and selling building materials to today’s high-end manufacturing and industrial park, to future commercial property projects. “Herocean has always believed in ‘Focusing on Africa, Connecting the World,’” she said.

“And now, with Dragon Oil, we’re not only building factories we are building futures.” This event, she added, also marked the 16th anniversary of Herocean’s “Ray of Light” Pan-Africa Philanthropy Programme, which supports education and communities across the continent. “We believe even the smallest rays of light can form a galaxy,” she said.

“That’s why we share the fruits of our growth through acts of giving.” With that, she invited the General Manager of Dragon Oil Tanzania, to share the story that inspired the day’s donation.

The day the car got stuck and hearts were moved

The General Manager of Dragon Oil Tanzania Mr Zhu stepped up with a warm smile and a story that, as it turned out, began not in a boardroom, but in the mud.

“Not long ago,” he recalled, “our CEO, Mr Song’s car got stuck in front of Msua Primary School while Herocean’s CEO, Mr. Song, was travelling with potential investors from China. They were nearly 100 kilometres from town, with no mobile signal and no help in sight. Then, like angels in uniform, a group of your students appeared.” The children ran home to fetch their parents, forming an impromptu rescue team.

“Everyone shouted, ‘One, two, three!’ and together they pushed our car free,” he said. “It wasn’t just muscle it was heart.” That moment, he said, left a lasting impression.

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“We didn’t see strangers; we saw a heroic ocean of kindness — fittingly, the very spirit of our name, Herocean.” Citing an old Chinese saying, he added, “A drop of grace given should be returned with a spring of kindness.” “This donation,” he continued, “is our spring of kindness in return for your drop of help.”

Gifts that open windows to the world

He then outlined the gifts prepared for Msua Primary School: computers, printers, science and English books, jerseys, and footballs a donation worth 2 million Tanzanian shillings.

“With the computers and books, we hope you’ll explore the ocean of knowledge and open doors to a bigger world,” he told the students. “With the footballs and jerseys, we wish you healthy, happiness, and the joy of teamwork.”

He also shared a message from Herocean CEO Mr. Song, who promised that this would not be a one-time gesture: “Starting this year, Herocean will make our support to Msua Primary School an annual tradition.” He closed by thanking the teachers for nurturing such kindhearted children.

“One day,” he said, “we hope to see some of you working with Herocean or Dragon Oil, continuing the circle of kindness you began.”

The school that pushed more than a car

Next to speak was James Kamili, the teacher representative, Academic Master at Msua Primary School and the man now responsible for putting those gifts to good use. “On behalf of all teachers and students,” he began, “we say thank you!

That day, when we helped push the car, we thought it was nothing special — just the right thing to do. Little did we know it would lead to something so big like this.”

He described the donation as “a window to the world” for his pupils. “With these computers and books, our students can finally see beyond their textbooks,” he said. “And the footballs and jerseys well, they’ve already won the children’s hearts.”

He promised the school would make full use of every item: “You have not only given us tools for learning, but also a lesson in gratitude and giving back. We won’t let your kindness go to waste.”

The children speak and shine

When the pupils’ representative in fifth grade took the stage, his brief but heartfelt words melted the crowd. His smile and perhaps the occasional shy giggle said more than speeches ever could.

As cameras clicked, the host reminded the audience, “What’s being handed over is more than supplies; it’s friendship and a shared promise for the future.” Seeds of hope and a pledge for tomorrow.

The event’s symbolic handover followed, as the manager of dragon oil and Teacher representative exchanged certificates of appreciation before posing for a group photo. The audience cheered as the children held up their new footballs, beaming with pride. The host wrapped up the event with a reflection that summed up the mood.

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“Today isn’t the end,” she said. “It’s a beautiful beginning. Kindness, once sown, keeps growing. The children’s helping hands inspired generosity, and that generosity will inspire others. The circle continues.”

From small acts to lasting impact

The Herocean–Dragon Oil partnership is more than a business alliance. It’s a reminder that industrial progress can coexist with compassion and that corporate growth is richer when it lifts communities along the way.

The Herocean Industrial Park, which is steadily becoming an economic driver in Tanzania, has now also become a symbol of shared humanity where a group of schoolchildren once pushed a car, and in doing so, set a new standard for corporate kindness.

As the final photo was taken, one student whispered to a classmate, “We helped them and now they’re helping us.” And perhaps that was the day’s real lesson: a simple act of kindness, multiplied by gratitude, can move far more than a stuck car it can move hearts, communities, and even industries.