FROM SMALL SEEDS
28/07/03
Ten pairs of keen, alert eyes were fixed on me in Nasiyaya village. These women seemed to be full of energy and enthusiasm to help their village, where 26 orphans and 6 critically ill patients were needing help. Unfortunately the Chief had refused to give them land for growing vegetables, but even that didn’t stop them, they had managed to collect 2000kw (£15) and rent some land for a year.
I was glad to have some seed packets in my bag, these people deserved them. I even promised to bring fertiliser and pesticide next week when they will show me the prepared seedbeds. Fertiliser though, was promised only after my passionate talk about the benefits of compost making and them promising to use that next year.
It was a different story on the following day in Metetete. Nobody from the 18 VAC members were present when we arrived, everybody gone to a maize mill; only a very handsome black cockcrow was stepping up and down the yard. We sat down, waiting. The sun was hot when I rambled for over an hour on a stony path to reach the village, but now when sitting down, clouds filled the sky and the goose pimples soon covered my arms. After patiently waiting, people started appearing, one by one, bare feet, and carrying children on their backs. There wasn’t much enthusiasm here. Apparently the communication in the village was bad and although they had land for starting the vegetable growing, nothing had been done and the feeling that nothing will be done either, was lingering in the air. After two hours of persuasion from Stonnard and Harrison though, there were signs of awakening. Leaflets about HIV/AIDS were delivered and we got an invitation to come back next Wednesday and see their
Progress. ‘Azungu’ has promised to speak then and this ‘azungu’ is actually looking forward to that.
How do I admire these young men at COPRED. At the moment they don’t get any money for their work, because there is no money – but it doesn’t seem to stop them walking from village to village, encouraging people to form VAC’s - ‘village action committees’. These committees then try to find ways to help the orphans and chronically ill. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to do that is starting a vegetable garden. These vegetables will be used for feeding the most vulnerable in the village and the rest can be sold. I find it very difficult, even impossible to refuse giving a starter pack of seeds, fertiliser and pesticide for them. Can ‘Heart of Africa’ afford that?
The awareness of HIV/AIDS is also always on the agenda and Youth Clubs are mainly responsible for that work. The footballs are becoming very useful when tempting the youngsters to gather for discussions. I just have to find them! You see, problems here are slightly different to the problems in Woking or Helsinki where you just walk to a sports shop and select the ball you want. These balls are waiting for me somewhere and one day I will find them.