Hier is Khalai. Haar naam beteken “blom” in haar taal, Setswana.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”.
Khalai word wakker en praat met die lemoenboom. “Asseblief, lemoenboom, groei hoog sodat jy vir ons baie ryp lemoene kan gee.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.”
Khalai loop skool toe. Langs die pad gesels sy met die gras. “Asseblief, gras, bly mooi groen en moenie opdroog nie.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pa kuya ku sukuulu alasosha icaani ati: “We caani, napaapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai loop verby veldblomme. “Asseblief, blomme, hou aan met bloei dat ek julle in my hare kan steek.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba ya mpanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba muleebalula bwino-bwino pakuti ndeswako no kubiika mu mushishi wandi.”
By die skool praat Khalai met die boom in die middel van die speelgrond. “Asseblief, boom, stoot groot takke uit sodat ons in jou skaduwee kan sit en lees.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Khalai nga afika ku sukulu, lyonse alasosha icimuti icabeela pakati ka lubansa lwe sukulu ati: “We cimuti, napaapaata kula utwale ne misambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pa kubelenga.”
Khalai praat met die heining rondom haar skool. “Groei asseblief om ‘n sterk heining te wees en die slegte mense buite te hou.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
