Good afternoon all,
A few weeks ago, I was running on my usual route away from town when I noticed that someone had started running with me. I turned my head to see who this bold character could be, only to come face to face with a huge, nearly toothless, grin from a very old man. A week earlier, I had travelled to a village called Sinyendeende to make an appointment with the headman to conduct our research. It seemed that headman Sinyendeende and I had met again before I expected. He was wearing a dress shirt and vest, dress pants, and white dress shoes. He smiled the whole time and refused me to slow my pace. Everyone we passed cheered and gave him some words of encouragement. I think he enjoyed the attention. Starting the climb up the small hill, he started to breathe heavily, and I worried that he was pushing himself too hard. I’m sure that he’s above 70 years old, but he was determined so I kept my lips closed. At the top of the incline, he finally slowed and waved me on my way, still smiling. Tonight he would have a story to tell the family!
Visiting Sinyendeende village, although it was in the same area as Simweete and Dick Chilapula villages, was like going to a different planet. Sinyendeende had been supported by WaterAid with a deep well equipped with a handpump. Many of the households used the water from the pump to make bricks, grow gardens, and water their animals (including cows, which require a substantial amount compared to goats or chickens). It was unbelievable. And when we asked people if they thought using the water for productive activities affected the amount available for them to drink, all answered ‘no’. Noone asked us how to improve their waterpoint, or how they could get a new one. They also had access to a small dam where many would take their cattle, so people were generally happy with their water situation. One question we asked them, though, was if they had plans for when this water point stopped producing water, which it eventually would. They all agreed that they hadn’t considered that far ahead in terms of water. But now, since they were making money from their water point, they decided that it would be the best time to start planning while they still had the opportunity.
A few weeks ago, I was running on my usual route away from town when I noticed that someone had started running with me. I turned my head to see who this bold character could be, only to come face to face with a huge, nearly toothless, grin from a very old man. A week earlier, I had travelled to a village called Sinyendeende to make an appointment with the headman to conduct our research. It seemed that headman Sinyendeende and I had met again before I expected. He was wearing a dress shirt and vest, dress pants, and white dress shoes. He smiled the whole time and refused me to slow my pace. Everyone we passed cheered and gave him some words of encouragement. I think he enjoyed the attention. Starting the climb up the small hill, he started to breathe heavily, and I worried that he was pushing himself too hard. I’m sure that he’s above 70 years old, but he was determined so I kept my lips closed. At the top of the incline, he finally slowed and waved me on my way, still smiling. Tonight he would have a story to tell the family!
Visiting Sinyendeende village, although it was in the same area as Simweete and Dick Chilapula villages, was like going to a different planet. Sinyendeende had been supported by WaterAid with a deep well equipped with a handpump. Many of the households used the water from the pump to make bricks, grow gardens, and water their animals (including cows, which require a substantial amount compared to goats or chickens). It was unbelievable. And when we asked people if they thought using the water for productive activities affected the amount available for them to drink, all answered ‘no’. Noone asked us how to improve their waterpoint, or how they could get a new one. They also had access to a small dam where many would take their cattle, so people were generally happy with their water situation. One question we asked them, though, was if they had plans for when this water point stopped producing water, which it eventually would. They all agreed that they hadn’t considered that far ahead in terms of water. But now, since they were making money from their water point, they decided that it would be the best time to start planning while they still had the opportunity.
As a side story to our visit to Sinyendeende village, I wanted to tell you about a man with a vision. Everyone calls him Rasta, since he has dreads, and he is currently building a home in a tree. This is not your average tree house up in the branches. He’s decided to dig out beneath the tree and have it act as his roof. He’s also bored out the bottom section to give him a higher ceiling, and now there’s a big bee hive attached to the top. He works in town, about 7km away, and spends his spare time on his project. He actually lived there last rainy season. He has a large piece of land which he’s also developing into a field/reservoir. The land is on a slope and he wants to dam the run off water to eventually irrigate his maize fields. It’s rare to find someone trying something so different in the village. He does has the luxury of a salaried job and he’s not yet married with a family. The rest of the community are very supportive and he pays them for clearing his property with chitenges (material used by the women for skirts). He hopes that someday, his home in the tree will be a small tourist attraction. Let me know what you think!
Hoping this finds you peaceful with a purpose.
Lv,
Jenn
Hoping this finds you peaceful with a purpose.
Lv,
Jenn
