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My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Fi mi vilij di av uoliip a prablem. Wi did afi mek wahn lang lain fi kech waata fram wan paip.
We waited for food donated by others.
We waited for food donated by others.
Wi did afi wiet pan frii fuud we ada piipl gi wi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Wi yuus tu lak op wi ous orli kaaz a tiif.
Many children dropped out of school.
Many children dropped out of school.
Uoliip a pikni jrap out a skuul.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Yong gyal pikni yuus tu du elpa wok ina di ada vilij dem.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Yong bwaai pikni aigl roun di vilij wail som a dem du wok pan ada piipl faam.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Wen di briiz bluo, gyaabij eng aaf a di chrii dem an fens dem.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Piipl wuda get kot fram brok glaas we dash we kielis.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Den wan die, di paip jrai op an wi kantiena dem did emti.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Mi faada go fram yaad tu yaad an aks piipl fi kom a wahn vilij miitn.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Piipl gyada tugeda anda wahn big chrii an lisn.
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Mi faada git op an se, “wi afi wok tugeda fi fiks wi prablem dem.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Iet-iez-uol Juuma, siddong pan wahn stomp an baal out se, “Mi kyan elp fi kliin op.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Wan uman se, “Di uman dem kyan kom tugeda wid mi fi plaant fuud.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Wan neks man git op an se, “Di man dem wi dig wahn wel.”
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Aal a wi baal out tugeda, “Wi afi chienj ou wi liv.” Fram dat die, wi wok tugeda fi fiks wi prablem dem.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Read by: Darshan Soni
