Powerful Testimonies from New Peace Outreach

by Tim Wright reporting from the field, Marsabit County, Kenya

In April 2014, Sauti Moja initiated a new Peace CLB, Karantina, modelled after the successful one in Badasa-Songo, where widows of conflict have united as peace-makers in their communities. This new livestock bank is also made up of 10 Borana and Gabra widows and 10 Rendille widows. Sauti Moja leads peace training and activities that contribute to solidarity among these ‘enemies’, and they learn together in family health training. 

Paul, SM Peace Coordinator, discusses forgiveness

 with widows of conflict.

In their new friendships, these women often initiate reconciliation activities independent of Sauti Moja.  October 18^th, I was called to the village of Hulahula to witness a peace activity initiated by Borana and Gabra widows. More than 10 widows had traveled from Manyatta Ginda to offer support to Kukermaya, a Rendille widow whose son is seriously ill and who did not have adequate food to feed him well. The women sacrificed Ksh1300 (~$15) to help Kukermaya buy food and secure medical help. In turn, this unexpected gesture of goodwill led the Rendille women of the Peace CLB to prepare food for the women who had walked many kilometers to bring encouragement.  These acts of unity are a powerful witness to changed hearts and relationship.

This setting provided a wonderful opportunity for me to ask women about what has changed for them, over the past six months.  I was shocked by the scope of change.  Responses follow.

• “The road to town is no longer a place of fear. We do not have enemies along the road; we are sisters. The roads that were closed by fear are now open!”  Salo Fora, Gabra
• “Before, we feared each other, but now we are comfortable together.  We meet for weddings and births and give gifts. When there is sickness and death, we visit and comfort one another.  This never happened when we were enemies.”  Adi Wako, Borana
• “Before, it was painful to meet a Borana or Gabra and have to greet them.  Now, I feel good, and one can even give food.  If we come too late from town, we can sleep in the home of a Borana or Gabra woman.  If they are too tired to return home, tonight, they can sleep in our homes.” Gumatho, Rendille

Widows of conflict now share food as women
for peace.

• “When we have CLB meetings, we don’t just talk about peace, but we encourage those who still have ‘heavy hearts’ to join us.  We brought these women and even some who are not members of the CLB with us, today, to join us in this trip, so that they will have changed heart toward the Rendille.  These joint, group activities build our morale and keep us together.”  Dohatu Tache, Borana.
•  “There is a change in relationship related to livestock.  Before you might have stolen livestock in your herd, and there was some bad feeling; the one who had them stolen, also had bad feeling.  Now, with livestock being given between enemies, everyone experiences joy and love. The receiver has a changed heart and wants to be like the giver.”  Salo Fora, Gabra
• “We no longer have to go to open, high places to herd and guard our livestock.  Now, people can graze everywhere and even rest in the shade. This is true for the whole community.”  Salo Fora, Gabra
• “We have greater security from outsiders who come to make trouble.  We can send a messenger or call on the phone to let the other tribe know, if someone bad is planning something.  They can warn their security people before anything happens.”  Salo Fora, Gabra

Widows from different tribes now enjoy close friendship.

In response to my questions about attitudes and reactions by elders and other men in the community, there was general agreement of support.  A Manyatta Ginda woman said, “Most of the time when we are coming for peace outreach, the elders and other women say that it is good work.  The elders really encourage us.”  A Hulahula woman agreed, “The elders are also supportive and encourage us.”  Another woman said, “The question in the air is how, after all the peace meetings and seminars by churches, government and other agencies, are these ladies doing it?”

       

 “God is giving us strength. We will not turn back.”   Gumatho, Rendille.

A Future with a Promise and a Smile

Sometimes, Sauti Moja staff discover situations of despair that fall outside usual programming. Baby Christine was one of those cases. During a 2013 visit to a remote Rendille village, an anxious mother introduced her baby, who was suffering with a cleft palate. At a quick glance, one could easily see that her 16 month old baby was malnourished due to inability to nurse and eat well.

The day Sauti Moja was first introduced to Baby Christine and her
 Mama while visiting a remote village in Marsabit County.

Baby Christine at 16 months of age, malnourished due
to her inability to nurse and eat well.

In response, Lucia, Sauti Moja’s Family Health Coordinator, organized for the baby to attend a health clinic where she learned that, in addition to being malnourished, Christine had a lung infection.  At this time, we also contacted Operation Smile Kenya to enquire about surgery, but learned that surgery would not be possible in Christine’s fragile state. 

Little Christine, just a few weeks after cleft palate surgery.

Fortunately, the local Sisters of Charity agreed to take Christine into their care, and supported by Christine’s mother, built up her nutritional intake with a traditional diet plus ‘plumpy nuts’, a well-known nutritional supplement used in cases of severe malnutrition. Over the next few months, Christine did grow stronger, but not before also having to recover from Chicken Pox. 

Operation Smile finally approved Christine’s surgery, and Sauti Moja worked on the logistics for support, travel and accommodation. They identified a Rendille nurse who would accompany them on their journey to Nairobi, as a woman from a remote village would not know how to get there, travel within town, find a place to stay and eat, etc. This was a big trip for Mama and child!

On August 16^th, Christine’s surgery proceeded as planned, and Operation Smile, together with Sauti Moja and Sisters of Charity, gave baby Christine a future with a promise and a smile.

Mama and her little girl, Christine, now looking toward a future with a promise and a smile.

www.sautimoja.org

CHALLENGING STIGMA OF DEAFNESS

Kuro in his classroom at Karen School for the Deaf, Kenya.

Kuro with a teacher and translator.

Deaf children and their families are stigmatized in some cultures, as people do not understand the cause of deafness nor the potential of deaf persons.  Kuro is one who will help to change attitudes toward deafness in his Borana and other communities.

Kuro’s mother is one of the older widows that we have helped with  livestock. On a visit, we learned that her only child could no longer attend school due to lack of money, so was destined to ostracized life in their village. She was in tears, having determined to sell the donkey that relieved her of so much work. She said, “I would rather die than have my son denied an education.” In response to a loving mother’s plea, one of our staff provided a year of education support. When Kuro completed secondary school, Sauti Moja continued to support him in a technical school for the deaf.

Kuro is now studying carpentry and learning business management. Both Kuro and his mother are happy, he has a bright future with  all the new construction in Marsabit area, and his mother’s sacrifices will be rewarded by support from a devoted, loving son.

Ashu: a mother’s life of sacrifice, hope and perseverance

 by Lyn Bishop

Out of love for their children, some mothers in desperate situations give their children away to ensure their survival and in expectation that they will have a better future. Ashu, a Sauti Moja beneficiary, recently related how she, too, struggled with this choice for her four children ages 5 to 15 years and her young brother. She agreed that Sauti Moja share her story of hope and perseverance with you.

When Ashu’s husband abandoned her and the children, she was struggling to make ends meet with a small vegetable stand. Nevertheless, Ashu is hard-working, and she felt that, if she could find right situation, her hard work would eventually pay off. She decided to partner with a local business man, and together, they took a loan to start a larger vegetable shop. However, it wasn’t long after they signed for a loan that he disappeared with money. She found herself in a worse situation, with a business to run, a family to feed, and a big loan to pay.  

Ashu’s family was in dire straits; she owed so much money, and the family was uncertain about where they would find the next meal. Without government safety nets and food banks, NO money meant NO food!  Her children recalled many days when their mother went without food so that they could share the meager portions which she had been able to beg from neighbours. During these times of desperation and feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness, Ashu struggled with giving up and leaving her children with relatives. She didn’t!

Instead, Ashu continued with hard work and perseverance in spite of huge challenges in raising a large family as a single mom. She joined Sauti Moja Marsabit’s income generating activities in which women brainstorm and work together to create income for themselves. Ashu participates in soap making and farming activities. She also received a loan from SMM for a small open air stall that is outside a ‘proper shop’. Here, she sells, used clothing, shoes, charcoal and perfume, along with the soap and vegetables grown from participation in our program. 

I also interviewed two of Ashu’s daughters, who are so grateful that the family could stay together. Etenesh, the 13 year old daughter, says she knows her mother loves her, because she works so hard to make sure she has all she needs to attend school. (The cost of uniforms and books can be a heavy burden when so little income is coming into the household.)  Etenesh also remembers her mother going without food so they could eat.

When I asked Etenesh if she had any wish, what would she wish for, she responded, “I’d buy my mother a new house.”  And, what did Genet, Ashu’s 15 year old daughter, learn from watching her mother?  “Don’t lose hope, and hard work will see you through.” When I looked at this loving family, I knew that they draw strength from one another. 

Life is still challenging, but Ashu says that she has grown even stronger through the years. I asked, “What life lessons can you share with other mothers facing similar challenges?” Very simply, she stated, “Patience; patience in God, as he will offer a way out.”  

www.sautimoja.org

HUNGER IS NO GAME - THANK YOU!

Thank you to all our donors who came forward and answered Sauti Moja Canada’s appeal for food aid.

 All mothers will go to great lengths to feed their children, however the widowed and single mothers who comprise Sauti Moja’s beneficiary community have additional challenges. 

The journey to find food can take mothers away from their home, leaving young children to fend for themselves.  Women walk many kilometers determined to find food by digging for roots and seeking food in other bomas (homesteads) and communities.  This activity of foraging for food and seeking help burns many calories – hopefully less than the mother gets to consume. 

However, food aid provides immediate calories and protein that is critical to reducing malnutrition and allows these single mothers to remain in their village and care for their children through the difficult times.

Sauti Moja Canada and our beneficiaries give thanks to the many donors who have responded.  To date, your donation enabled the bi-weekly distribution of 14kg maize, 2kg beans and 0.5L oil to assist 477 families in meeting their food needs.

Yes, Sauti Moja Canada will continue its appeal for food aid, while we  work to strengthen the community safety nets with further livestock distributions.   

Thank you!

http://www.sautimoja.org/Donations.html