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Kijiji kyako kewore ukiwa ufoi. Luleoroka mstari fuleshi lukewera iraiya mringa fukeuka mfongonyi.
Kijiji changu kilikuwa na matatizo mengi. Tulipanga foleni ndefu tukisubiri kuchota maji kutoka mfereji mmoja.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Lulewera iyambilia ndarama ya kyelya.
Tulisubiri kupokea msaada wa chakula.
We waited for food donated by others.
Luleshinga mba zaru kyukwanyi koiouo wiwi.
Tulifunga nyumba zetu mapema kwasababu ya wizi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Wana wafoi walera shule.
Watoto wengi waliacha shule.
Many children dropped out of school.
Wana wa kika walerunda shirundio shijiji sha mraseni.
Wasichana wadogo walifanya kazi za nyumbani kwenye vijiji vingine.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Wana wa kisoro waleraraa ifo kijijinyi na wengi walerunda mashambenyi ko wandu.
Wavulana wadogo waliranda randa kijijini na wengine walifanya kazi kwenye mashamba ya watu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Otanu lukocha, lukoiria makaritasi hafanyi lukoharunduzia mashirinyi na nduma ya mba.
Upepo ulipovuma, ulipeperusha karatasi chafu na kuzifikisha mitini na uani.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Wandu waleweho na shifunjo sha chupa sheshiwize sakenyi.
Watu walikatwa na vipande vya chupa vilivyotupwa ovyo ovyo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ko uro siku imu, mfongo fulesia mringa na shinungu sharu shikaomia.
Halafu siku moja, mfereji wa maji ulikauka na mitungi yetu ikawa mitupu.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Auye oko nalechumia mba zose aketerewa wandu wache kirembonyi kya kijiji.
Baba yangu alitembea nyumba hadi nyumba akiwaomba watu kuhudhuria mkutano wa kijiji.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Wandu waleramia wanda ya ikiri linganyi wakaaranyia.
Watu walikusanyika chini ya mti mkubwa na kusikiliza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Auye oko naleoroka kaamba, “Lukundi lutaramane lumarise ukiwa woru.”
Baba yangu alisimama na kusema, “Tunahitaji kusaidiana kutatua matatizo yetu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma, mana o maka nane neramie irambenyi la ikiri, nalerera kaamba, “Njichiirima tarama isanja.”
Juma, mtoto wa miaka minane aliyekuwa amekaa kwenye tawi la mti, alisema kwa sauti, “Naweza kusaidia na usafi.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Mrumka umu naleamba, “Oso waka luchiirima warana lureme.”
Mwanamke mmoja alisema, “Sisi wanawake tunaweza kuungana na kulima.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Mrumi ungi naleoroka kaamba, “Womi waisuma ndua.”
Mwanamume mwingine alisimama na kusema, “Wanaume watachimba kisima cha maji.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Lose kimu luleamba, “Lukundi lualache maisha haru.” Wokya mfiri fo, lulerunda kimu lumarise ukiwa woru.
Sote tulisema kwa sauti moja, “Lazima tubadilishe maisha yetu.” Tangu siku hiyo, tulifanya kazi pamoja kutatua shida zetu.
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
Translated by: Rogath Lauwo
Read by: Rogath Lauwo
