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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.
Mumushi wandi mwaliba amafya ayengi. Twali tantama mumulini pakuti twaingatapa amenshi kuli pompi imo.
Tulisubiri kupokea msaada wa chakula.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twalelolela ifyakulya ifyakupelwa ukufuma kumbi.
Tulifunga nyumba zetu mapema kwasababu ya wizi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twalekoma amayanda yesu bangwu ukutina bakabolala.
Watoto wengi waliacha shule.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abana abengi balilekele amasukulu.
Wasichana wadogo walifanya kazi za nyumbani kwenye vijiji vingine.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twalebomba incito ya bukaboi mumishi imbi.
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.
Utulumenda twalepitana mumushi ninshi bambi balebombela mumabala.
Upepo ulipovuma, ulipeperusha karatasi chafu na kuzifikisha mitini na uani.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela ngawapupa, ifipepala fyalepululukila mufimuti and kwilinga.
Watu walikatwa na vipande vya chupa vilivyotupwa ovyo ovyo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena kumabotolo yatomeka ayaleposwafye iciposwe poswe.
Halafu siku moja, mfereji wa maji ulikauka na mitungi yetu ikawa mitupu.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Bushiku bumo, pompi tayalebomba, ifipe fyesu tafyakwete menshi.
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.
Batata baile cila ng’anda ukuwita abantu ukwisa sangwa kucilye camushi.
Watu walikusanyika chini ya mti mkubwa na kusikiliza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishile ikala mwisamba lyamuti nokukutika.
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.”
Batata epakwima abati “Tufwile ukubombela pamo pakuti tupwishe ubu ubwafya bwesu.
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.”
Umwana wamyaka cine konse konse uweshina lya Juma, uwaikele pamulando epakupunda ati, “kuti nayafwilishako ukupyanga no kuwamya”.
Mwanamke mmoja alisema, “Sisi wanawake tunaweza kuungana na kulima.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namyo umo asosa ati, “Bana mayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Mwanamume mwingine alisimama na kusema, “Wanaume watachimba kisima cha maji.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitata umbi aminina ati, “Bashitata kuti twaimba icishima.”
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.
Bonse epakupunda mwishiwi limo ati, “kuti twapilibula imikalile yesu”. Ukufumafye bulyabushiku twalebombela pamo uku pwisha amafya yesu.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Ursula Nafula
Read by: Lauwo George
