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My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Mo vilaz ti ena boukou problem. Nou ti pe met lake pou al rod dilo dan enn sel robine.
Mon village avait beaucoup de problèmes. Nous faisions la queue pour aller chercher de l’eau d’un seul robinet.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
We waited for food donated by others.
Nou ti pe atann manze ki lezot ti pe done.
Nous attendions la nourriture donnée par les autres.
We waited for food donated by others.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Nou ti pe met lake dan laport boner akoz voler.
Nous barrions nos maisons tôt à cause des voleurs.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Many children dropped out of school.
Boukou zanfan ti’nn aret lekol.
Plusieurs enfants avaient abandonné l’école.
Many children dropped out of school.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Bann zenn-fi ti pe travay kouma servant dan bann lezot vilaz.
Les jeunes filles travaillaient comme domestiques dans d’autres villages.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Bann zenn-zan ti p promne otour vilaz pandan ki lezot ti pe travay lor bann laferm dimounn.
Les jeunes garçons se promenaient autour du village pendant que d’autres travaillaient sur des fermes.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Kan divan ti pe soufle, bann bout papie ti pe tas dan pie ek fennsing.
Quand le vent soufflait, des déchets de papier pendaient des arbres et des clôtures.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Dimounn ti pe gagn koupe ar vit kase ki lezot ti pe avoye san reflesi.
Les gens se faisaient couper par de la vitre brisée lancée sans faire attention.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ala enn zour, robine finn aret koule ek tou touk, tank ek seo ti’nn vid.
Puis un jour, le robinet se tarit et nos conteneurs étaient vides.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Mo papa finn al dan bann lakaz ek finn dimann bann dimounn partisip dan enn renion ki vilaz ti pe fer.
Mon père marcha de maison en maison et demanda aux gens de participer à une réunion du village.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Dimounn ti’nn rasanble anba enn gran pie ek ti pe ekoute.
Les gens se rassemblèrent sous un grand arbre et écoutèrent.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Mo papa nek leve ek dir, « Nou bizin travay ansam pou rezoud nou problem. »
Mon père se leva et dit, « Nous devons travailler ensemble pour résoudre nos problèmes. »
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Juma, ki ti ena wit-an e ki ti pe asize lor enn tron, nek kriye, « Mo kapav ede pou netwaye. »
Juma, âgée de huit ans et assise sur un tronc d’arbre, cria, « Je peux aider à nettoyer. »
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Enn madam nek dir, « Bann madam kapav zwenn mwa pou kiltiv nouritir. »
Une femme dit, « Les femmes peuvent me joindre pour faire pousser de la nourriture. »
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Enn lot misie nek leve ek dir, « Bann misie pou fouy enn pwi. »
Un autre homme se leva et dit, « Les hommes creuseront un puits. »
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Nou tou finn kriye ensam, « Nou bizin sanz nou lavi. » Depi sa zour-la nou tou finn travay ansam pou rezoud nou problem.
Nous criions tous d’une seule voix, « Nous devons changer nos vies. » Depuis ce jour, nous avons travaillé ensemble pour résoudre nos problèmes.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Read by: Darshan Soni
