if we each do nothing to make a difference, the world will never change: Seeds for Change

On Tuesday May 26th, I arrived at Grace’s house (Grace is the chair person for the group) and was greeted by 16 individuals ready and eager to learn about fruit tree grafting. The training was a joy to watch. The group broke into smaller groups and were given fruit trees to practice grafting after the demonstration. The trees were then labeled “team 1”, “team 2”, three and four. We are going to have a competition to see whose tree is successfully living at the end of June.

Wednesday I returned just prior to 2:00pm and was surprised some group members were ready and waiting for vegetable training. Knowing the great majority of people in Africa arrive more than “fashionably late” I was excited that all members of the group arrived by 2:30, and had come prepared to pay their 5,000 shilling monetary contribution to participate in the project. We started the session with training and Margaret, the trainer from Vi, showed the group how to make pots out of banana fibers (similar to the bark of a tree but it is thin like a leaf). Margaret stressed the lack of a polyurethane bag is not a good reason to fail to plant seeds and to look around the house for usable items to fill with dirt as many things can be suitable planters, but the best is banana fibers as they are natural and can be buried directly in the ground after the seeds have sprouted. From a distance I observed one of Grace’s younger boys watching intently. All of seven or eight, Whaswa grabbed a banana fiber, rolled it up like a tube, took a smaller piece and stuck it through the center, wrapped it around the sides like a Christmas present and walked very proud and confident to the group, firmly presenting it on the table. The crowd broke out in applause and my heart leapt as I thought “Yes, this is what it’s about – teaching the skills for generations to come!”

Thursday was spent walking around to stores I had previously visited informing them I was coming first thing this morning to pick up all the supplies for the project – hoping my notification would prompt some sort of preparation so pick up would be quick and easy.

Friday, the clouds rolled in with great fury. “Typical” I thought. It has not rained in days and now, with a number of errands and items to purchase and distribution to do, the rain poured from the sky. For two hours I sat at the Vi office making final preparations to the seed bags, making tags for the different seedlings and double counting the remaining money. Peering out the window, I prayed for the rains to cease and the sun to break so the day could be an enjoyable success, opposed to a soggy muddy one. Literally 10 minutes before departure, like a kink in a hose, the rains stopped and the sun shone bright. Blue sky peaked out.

Arriving at the stores I was at just a day earlier, the store clerk began to re-negotiate, offering me one product when I was quoted another, telling me a 2,000 shilling rake was better than the 3,500 rake. On Thursday, the clerk offered me the handles for the rakes at 500 shillings each, and the hoes for free, Friday she wanted to charge. I told her the option was to be true to her word and proceed as we agreed a day earlier or she can lose the entire order and I will go elsewhere with my 323,000 shillings. Rolling her eyes she instructed the boys to load up what we agreed to … I then explained I was taking the 40 nails she was trying to charge me for, free of charge, as she did not tell me nails were needed to secure the rake to the handle and she should have when we were discussing price and the order.

At another store I purchased 4 scratched, rusty, “new”, wheelbarrows for 63,000 shillings each. They were 65,000, I tried for 60,000 but the store clerk was firm…or perhaps I was weak. Part of me has a very difficult time negotiating price here knowing the equivalent of everything is SO inexpensive as compared to the US, but the other part of me understands that everyone is expected to negotiate and that Mzungus are consistently overcharged so even with my negotiated price, I still pay more than a local.

Driving down the long road to Grace’s house, passersby stared more than usual as the little white pickup loaded with 4 wheelbarrows, 19 watering cans, rakes, hoes, shovels, slashers and a plethora of other supplies flew by. Turning into her yard, members anxiously awaited my arrival with new supplies to make their days a little easier and help execute this Seeds for Change project.

Overjoyed, each member came, shook my hand or offered a hug as they exclaimed “sank you, sank you berry much Madam”. I continually strive to impact individuals with small things, always remembering it is often the little things that make the big difference. I truly wish you each could have been there with me. Those of you who contributed to this trip, be it monetary donation prior to my departure which I spent on these tools, support for my program fees, or prayer and emotional support have all directly made possible this Seeds for Change project and your generosity has changed, and will continue to change the lives of these people forever.

From them – through me – to you – “Sank you, sank you berry much!”

Preparations: Seeds for distribution