A Bridge of Hope

Siteki, Swaziland

07/06/09

The world is so very small.

Last week I spent some time with my friend Babe (pronounced Bahbay) Elliot Matsenjwa in the rural community of Mambane which is situated in the loftiest part of the Lebombo mountains.

He told me of his dream to build a care point for orphans and vulnerable children in his area. While we talked he told me of the problems facing his community. HIV, malnutrition amd poverty consistent with the menacing cloud of despair which looms over every little hamlet and molehill of this beautiful country. He also described a very high incidence of diarrheal disease, and all the complications associated with it including a very high rate of infant and child mortality.

I asked him "Babe, where do your people collect water."

Gesturing down the hillside, he said "The stream Dokotella, the Stream."

"Can we go there?" I asked.

And we proceeded down the jagged hillside which 3000 people in Mambane walk down every day to collect water for their families.

This is what we found:

A pool of mud.

I stood in utter disbelief as Babe Elliot described to me how this puddle of muddy, brown water no larger than one metre in diameter, served his entire community with drinking water.

There was certainly water there. It was rising from deep beneath the ground, but as it rose it became mixed with the soil and turned into sludge.

As we watched, two mothers came down to collect their water. They had each walked 15 kilometres from their hoomestead to arrive at the 'stream'. This would be the first of two trips they would undertake to collect water that day.

We watched as each mother collected 20 litres of water from the little puddle and carried it home to their children.





Later that day I wrote to my friend Kathleen, to whom we are donating all funds raised from this little blog.

I described the situation and this is what we have decided upon:

We will drill a borehole at Mambane in the coming weeks.

We will supply a water pump and 10,000 litre water tank for the community.

600 hundred homesteads (approximately 3000 people) will have clean water thanks to the generous readers of this blog who have shared their love with those who are suffering in Swaziland.

My friend, I cant describe you the joy I feel today.

I have been reminded that even in the most wounded corner of this world, change is eminently possible.

I believe with all my heart that when we come together as a community of caring we can build bridges of hope which stretch their open arms out across the seas of despair and embrace our brothers and sisters in need.

On behalf of every mother, father and child who will be blessed over and over again by the great gift you have given, I say 'Siyabonga'.

Thank you.

Love the world into change,

Maithri

Peace on Earth

Written by Laura Stamps

Sometimes I am certain

the peace I feel,

floating among

the silver leaves of early evening,

can surely travel from my fingertips

halfway across the blue mouth

of the sea to a country foreign

and fettered with men

squabbling among themselves

over politics or land or power,

until one suddenly notices

the apricot stain of this setting sun

and the silver leafed trees,

his burden easing,

and he turns

to another and says:

May we drop these stones,

cold and light dazed,

and find

a way to live in peace.