Sunday 20th June 2004
Agricultural Fair
Agricultural Fair had drawn many people into the Trade Fair grounds on Friday.
My little friend Wanagwa had told me about it and soon after the breakfast I aimed my steps there as well. I had an informative demonstration about compost making; met a radio reporter who wanted to make a programme about water irrigation and I suggested he should contact Edison Musopole at the Action Aid; bought a ‘Community Nutrition Training Manual’; was introduced into peanut varieties, tobacco growing and fish smoking before looking at the carts, specially designed for the use in Africa. These are wooden framed carts using the bicycle wheels. They can carry heavier weights and are still easier to push than wheelbarrows - and how many people here have even a wheelbarrow! Everywhere one can see men, women and children carrying extremely heavy weights. This ‘Africart’ seemed really a good invention, a good project (www.malawihandcartproject.org.).
It was started and is financed by an American, Arnold Wendroff. He comes here once a year (21 times so far) to check how the project is going and to enlarge the circulation. I was very lucky to have Arnold introducing these carts to me. I had started thinking how useful it would be having one in Upile Orphan Care Centre, but not even got as far as asking the price when Arnold announced that he would give one –free of charge for Upile. Wow- this was my lucky day! I started writing my details on a piece of paper, but when checking my phone no from my landlords visiting card, another surprise appeared: “Mr. Mankhanamba! I know Mr. Mankhanamba! We are having a dinner with him tonight, would you like to join us?”
I walked back home from the Fair, sat in my living room and started seriously questioning whether I was awake or dreaming. Many a time I have had a dream where I am wondering the reality of it. Dream or not, I decided to walk back to the Trade Fair to meet Arnold and his staff at 5 o’clock as agreed. The dream continued and 7 of us went to a Chinese Restaurant for a meal. Soon Watson Mankhanamba arrived and you can imagine his surprise when he saw me sitting there! It was such a lovely evening. The Malawian cart builders/suppliers had come to the Fair from all parts of the country and Arnold wanted to treat them with this meal. They had never been to a Chinese Restaurant and Arnold described what each dish contained; what is a prawn, lychee, noodle etc. I was a happy pixy: Food was good and before the evening was over, Arnold announced that Upile Orphan Care needs 2 carts! He also said something which I take as a compliment (when one has compliments like ‘You are fat Teli’ anything seems good enough!). Ellaton Mkware who is making these carts for me/Upile asked which organisation I was working for and before I could answer, Arnold said: ‘No no, she is a lunatic like me, working independently.’ Surely better to be called lunatic than fat and if my work can be compared to his in any way, I feel honoured.
In the evening, when creeping into my sleeping bag, I began to believe to be awake: Surely I wouldn’t be going to sleep if I were sleeping already! But the dream is staying on and the women of Upile burst into happy singing when they heard about it.