A small group of children wait patiently under the big tree. They have been there for a long time because today is the day of “the meal”. The youth of the Protestant parish that hosts the event watch over the younger children by encouraging them to pick up the trash and plastic bags littering the neighborhood. This is one of the great evils of Africa. Now it’s hot and the shade of the tamarind tree feels good.
Finally, when our vehicle arrives, many other children rush to greet us. The group has grown; they are now almost a hundred to wait quietly, shuffling against each other under the tree. They are used to this. Each month, it’s the same ritual. It is the day of “the meal” offered to them by the parish. Of course, it would need to be a much more regular ritual, but that is why we do what we do!
When everyone calmed down, quietly attentive to the explanations given to them, the children are put into two rows and then into pairs. They form lines, sort of, to wash their hands in large bowls filled with water. They rub their hands vigorously with a large round handcrafted soap. The soap does not lather much but we realize that for today, and perhaps for the week, their hands will be the cleanest part of their little dusty bodies.
Finally, huge bowls of rice are placed on the ground and the young adults are working to distribute the rice into other large bowls and create groups of 5 to 6 children that will sit around these bowls and eat. In addition to the rice, a few heads of cheap fish are added to the meal. David explains that for some of the children, this will be the only opportunity this week to have a real meal. Moreover, most do not go to school or do not go anymore. These moments of sharing are essential to keep their sense of community, once so rich in Africa and that is now rapidly dying as cities are being filled with those who empty the countryside … The Children swallow big handfuls of rice, they eat quickly, probably for fear of not having enough or that others might come to take their meal. Finally, small groups gather again around the big tree. They are full; their mouths a little dirty with the remnants of the food they just ate. Then the old pastor and his wife bring coolers full of small plastic bags filled with a kind of sweetened yogurt that kids love. Bags that the young people assure us, that will be gathered and burned.
This is the end of a moment of tremendous simplicity and yet with such strong emotion. The children return to their neighborhood, some linger while kicking a ball. There is no doubt that their future depends on their hope and we can contribute to this hope!
Because we believe that there is…
A Solution:
ONE WELL PER VILLAGE:
We believe people, not water, can change everything! When you sponsor Well Drilling Project in Burkina Faso, Africa you’ll unlock the potential of an entire community!