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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.
Mumushi wandi mwaliba amafya ayengi. Twali tantama mumulini pakuti twaingatapa amenshi kuli pompi imo.
We waited for food donated by others.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twalelolela ifyakulya ifyakupelwa ukufuma kumbi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Twalekoma amayanda yesu bangwu ukutina bakabolala.
Many children dropped out of school.
Many children dropped out of school.
Abana abengi balilekele amasukulu.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Utukashana twalebomba incito ya bukaboi mumishi imbi.
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.
Utulumenda twalepitana mumushi ninshi bambi balebombela mumabala.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Umwela ngawapupa, ifipepala fyalepululukila mufimuti and kwilinga.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Abantu baleicena kumabotolo yatomeka ayaleposwafye iciposwe poswe.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Bushiku bumo, pompi tayalebomba, ifipe fyesu tafyakwete menshi.
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.
Batata baile cila ng’anda ukuwita abantu ukwisa sangwa kucilye camushi.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abantu baishile ikala mwisamba lyamuti nokukutika.
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.”
Batata epakwima abati “Tufwile ukubombela pamo pakuti tupwishe ubu ubwafya bwesu.
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.”
Umwana wamyaka cine konse konse uweshina lya Juma, uwaikele pamulando epakupunda ati, “kuti nayafwilishako ukupyanga no kuwamya”.
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Namyo umo asosa ati, “Bana mayo kuti twabombela pamo ukulima ifyakulya.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Shitata umbi aminina ati, “Bashitata kuti twaimba icishima.”
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.
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
Read by: Darshan Soni
