Elema, Seven Years Later

by Tim Wright

February 12th was one of those incredibly rewarding days!  I wish that I could actually share the experience and my joy with all of you.

In August 2008, the Sauti Moja volunteers introduced me to Elema, a widow with three children, none of which could go to school due to lack of money. I agreed with the staff that hers was one of the most desperate situations that we had yet encountered. Elema and her children squatted on a relative’s land; their ‘house’ was riddled with holes; and the only means of support was occasional handouts, including relief food. The family was in a state of despair, and we determined to do something in spite of being convinced that our response was inadequate – perhaps just appeasing my conscience a bit.

Elema outside her home with her 3 children back in 2008.

As rainy season was approaching, Philip bought plastic sheets to put over her house to keep the rain off and allow them to sleep at night. We enrolled Elema in the livestock program, providing her with a donkey and four nanny goats. We used the photo of her and the children in an appeal for food aid during a drought. Thankfully, many from the Sauti Moja community responded, so she and other hungry families received some support.

Over the past six years, I lost personal contact with Elema and many of the original recipients of animals.  I wondered about Elema whenever I saw her photo on my computer or discussed progress in her village, Qachacha. Frankly, I was afraid to ask about her, specifically, feeling too embarrassed about not having done enough.

Thursday, we took a visitor to meet the women from Qachacha, and to hear about the results from our livestock and animal health support over the past years. I recognized so many faces. It was good to hear how donkeys had greatly reduced their workload; how goats provided milk and males were sold to pay for school fees, food, clothing, medicine etc; and how they were paying off their livestock loans by giving female offspring to other widows with young children. As usual, these stories felt good, and made us proud of these mothers and the good work of Sauti Moja Marsabit staff.

After the meeting, I hesitantly asked Philip, “Do you remember Elema? Whatever happened to her?”  He laughed, “She was in the meeting. Didn’t you see her?”, and then, he called her. How could I ever have recognized this well-dressed, happy woman who was overflowing with gratitude?  She told us that her goat herd has multiplied well, and she has paid off her loan. Her donkey has relieved her burden of fetching water for herself and other women in the community. Her children have nutritious food, and she can afford to send them to school. Her housing has improved….. I ‘never’ choke up, but it was all that I could do to hold back tears of joy with seeing Elema after so many years of fearing the worst for her and her children.

Elema with Tim and Philip on that special day.
"I ‘never’ choke up, but it was all that I could do to hold back tears of joy..."

I was not satisfied, so Lyn and I arranged to go with Philip to visit her home and learn more. We found that she had moved to another village on the land where they had lived when her husband died.  She told us that a man had chased them off the land, as she was a widow with no livestock and the land was good for grazing; this is why we had found them squatting on relative’s land. However, when she received livestock from us, she was now chased from the relative’s farm, but fortunately, her home village intervened and made sure that she could return to the land that was rightfully hers. And, it is great land for raising goats and donkeys.

Philip, Tim and Elema in her grazing area with her donkeys.

We walked to the grazing area with Elema, and her two girls rounded up the livestock. We found a pregnant jenny (female donkey) and another male donkey. (One female colt had been killed by a hyena.)  Elema told us how the donkey reduces her workload so much. Her round trip to get water varies from 6 to 10 hours depending on the season and supply of water in the wells, but her back is saved!  She talked about a past drought when she and her friends used to lift her weakened donkey up in the mornings so that it could get out to graze and drink water.  Like other women she is a great steward of what she has been given.

Now, after paying off her goat loan, Elema has a buck and four other males that can be sold for income and to meet household needs. In addition, there are nine female goats of breeding age, and there were three kids.  In the past, she has sold three males for school fees and food.  When she was particularly unhealthy a few months ago, they had butchered one to have meat.  (I calculated her livestock wealth to be more than $1300.)

Elema is proud of her goats and said that receiving livestock
was a big psychological boost.

What has this meant to Elema? She said that receiving livestock was a big psychological boost, and at that point, her problems were left behind. This was a new start for her and the children.  Before, no one had liked her, as she was a burden; she was not even strong enough to get casual labour weeding fields.  Now, she has milk to sustain her and her children, she is a respected community member, and she has been able to send her son to school.  In her words, “God has blessed us”.  Her joy indicated that she truly meant it!

Martha - A Mother to Many Children

This Mother’s Day, we are pleased to recognize Martha Bone, who is exemplary of the type of local leaders – ones with vision, passion and expertise - that Sauti Moja chooses to support in ministry to their communities.  Martha demonstrates these qualities, as she coordinates our vulnerable youth program in Kenya.  

Martha tending to a young mother and baby.

Martha tells us that she originally had a mindset that when girls got pregnant outside of marriage they were just bad people, but through her interactions as a community health worker with young girls, her perspective changed. When she learned that the root cause was a combination of girls’ lives in poverty, lack of power in relationship with men, naivety, and lack of basic information about reproductive health, her heart filled with compassion. As a mother of a young daughter, she wanted to reach out to these girls; they shouldn’t have to lose out on an education and these children, many of whom were chased from home, should not bear the burden of child-rearing alone.

Child mother and toddler growing-up healthy, resilient and educated with Sauti Moja's support.

It was Martha’s vision and passion that inspired Sauti Moja to establish the Child Mother program.  Sauti Moja Marsabit supports school girls – several as young as 14 - to realize their dreams through educational or vocational support, while providing counseling and ensuring good health care and monitoring for their children.  Reproductive health and life skills training provide the information they need for good decision-making for themselves and their child.   

 

Martha’s timely intervention and care for these young moms and their babies, has been an inspiration for the girls’ own family and community.  When mothers realized that their ‘disgraceful’ daughters were being loved, cared for and supported by a person whom they didn’t know, these mothers began welcoming their girls back to their home community and began caring for their daughters’ babies.  In reference to Martha, a child mother said, “God has blessed you to be a mother of all these children from our diverse communities.” 

Martha is one of the original founders of Sauti Moja Marsabit and was supporting child mothers even before the organization was formed in 2010.

 

Unfortunately, there have been challenges, like girls dropping out of school after re-enrollment or having a second pregnancy. However, as the girls are becoming increasingly empowered through reproductive health training, and as they learn more about the consequences of their decisions, school drop outs and second pregnancies have greatly reduced.  Now, thanks to Martha vision, passion, and dedication, many young girls have now graduated from school and are able to support themselves and their child. This has contributed to change in community attitude toward young mothers; they see that there can be a promising future and a career for a young girl who has had a baby.

Prevention is the key, and now, primary girls are educated on reproductive health and life skills.

 

Martha’s care for the vulnerable has led to a new vision for other vulnerable youth, including orphans and deaf children.  In the last two years, at the request of parents, teachers and girls, sexual reproductive health and life skills training is being provided to primary girls in order to prevent early pregnancy, empower girls and support their educational goals. But, she is not stopping there, as now, at the request of teachers and parents, they are beginning to deliver similar training to school boys.  This certainly is evidence of how a mother’s vision and passion can extend beyond the home and transform the lives of many children.

It was a happy day when Martha presented Grace with her own sewing machine after she graduated from her tailoring course.

For this Mother’s Day, Martha expressed a wish that all mothers would be appreciated and loved no matter how young they are and that all children would have the opportunity to realize their dreams.

Click on the following link to see a Sauti Moja Vulnerable Youth program video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlxaBHHp0J0

A Canadian Experience

Imagine that your first visit outside of your warm Kenyan home was to Canada in November. This was the experience of Martha, Sauti Moja’s Vulnerable Youth Coordinator, and Paul, the Peace Coordinator.  Sponsored by Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) through their ‘People to People’ program, Martha and Paul met those who support CFGB and ERDO, two agencies that partner with Sauti Moja. They toured the Prairies and parts of Ontario, speaking to many Church communities about the challenges of poverty, hunger and conflict and how the generous donations of Canadians transform lives. They were so touched by the wonderful kindness and hospitality extended to them. We have had many people inquire about their experience.

Paul and Martha at Sunset Church in Regina.

Speaking Engagements

At every speaking engagement, they were greeted with affirming comments such as, “Thank you.  Now, we better understand the challenge of your pastoralist communities and how our resources help so much.” Sauti Moja donors in Saskatchewan and Ontario were delighted to actually meet those whom they had read and heard from us about.

Cold Weather

Even though temperatures were warmer than usual, they struggled with the cold.  Although dressed for the weather, they couldn’t find familiar warmth, and Paul was seldom without his toque and sweater.  At times, we had to encourage him to take his coat off when indoors, so as to feel the warmth of the coat when going outside.

Experiencing the cold at Niagara Falls.

Extensive Travel

After a month of travel, they expressed exhaustion from long road trips and learned firsthand that Canada is very large. They also learned that winter road trips can be risky; Martha was in a car accident when the vehicle in front of them spun out of control and demolished their car. After x-rays and a check-up, everyone was given a clean bill of health; she left impressed with the care that she was given.

Food

In pastoralist communities where food is of limited supply, one doesn’t expect to eat every time you feel hungry. Generous hosts presented meals and snacks at every turn, and Paul couldn’t understand why we eat so often.  Then, he found his clothing becoming too tight, so all I could say, “Now you understand the challenge this country has with weight.” They missed the food of home, but celebrated the ‘wonderful food of home’ when visiting a friend from Marsabit.
 

Paul combing a Charolais bull at Agribition in Regina.

Tourist Fun

Truthfully, there was not much time for tourism between speaking engagements, but they saw the Rockies, though a bit overcast. In Regina, they were impressed by the huge bulls at the livestock show, Agribition. They saw high-tech poultry and dairy farms where they learned about efficiency and lack of jobs. In Ontario, we took them to the Science Centre, Welland Canal, and Niagara Falls; on the last day, our trip to the Aquarium and CN Tower was cancelled due to their exhaustion.

Family

As it turns out ‘home is home’ and although their experience here was positive, they were both missing their families something fierce. A month away was a long time, and over time, were increasingly anxious to return home. Plus, they had to get back to their work for Sauti Moja Marabit!  Once home, Martha reported, “Paul and I came back home safely, and our families are doing well. We had a briefing of our tour to SMM staff, and they were happy to hear the stories and see the pictures and videos of what we did during our visit to Canada. We thank all those who participated with us during our visit and the support they gave us. We pray for God’s blessing and courage to continue with your good work.”

Martha and Paul Come to Canada

As part of the Sauti Moja Community, we would like you to meet Martha Bone and Paul Galmagar from Kenya. They are founders of our work in Marsabit; Martha is our Vulnerable Youth Coordinator, including child mothers. Paul is the Peace Coordinator and provides leadership for our livestock loans to single mothers.

 

As Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a major funder for our livestock, peace, and gender programming, has been so impressed with our projects, they invited and are hosting Paul and Martha for a speaking tour in the Prairies and Ontario.  We are inviting you to join us and meet Martha and Paul, who will make a short presentation followed by a question period and time for visiting.  

 Saskatchewan Location
Monday, November 23rd, Kathy Platt and the congregation of Sunset United Church, 177 Sunset Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan are hosting a potluck lunch at 11:30 a.m. 

Ontario Location

Saturday, November 28th from 2:30pm to 4:00pm @ the Church of the Epiphany, 141 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario 

  

Martha will be especially excited to meet those who sponsor child mothers! If you are interested in peacemaking between ethnic groups, Paul is truly an expert; you will enjoy talking with him.  Looking forward to seeing those who are able to join us!

Hope for Vulnerable Girls

Since 2006, Sauti Moja’s Child Mother Program has facilitated continued educational opportunities for girls who become pregnant while students and, therefore, face shattered dreams, new responsibilities, and uncertain futures.

Plight of Child Mothers

In both Kenya and Tanzania, becoming pregnant while studying can signal the end of a girl’s education. In communities where Sauti Moja works, reactions to pregnancy are different, but the consequences are equally serious. Some communities, such as the Borana and Gabra of northern Kenya have a very conservative response to child pregnancy, and due to social stigma and shame a pregnant girl may be cast out of the family and community. She loses her educational opportunity, due to lack of support for herself and child. In Tanzania, a pregnant student is permanently expelled from the public school system. Some Maasai families that place a lower value on education of girls which coupled with loss of affordable education often results in the child mother being forced into early marriage.

Sauti Moja Needs Your Help

You can help restore a young girl’s dreams by becoming a sponsor. Your sponsorship will make it possible for Sauti Moja to support child mothers by:

• Counseling pregnant girls, mediating with her parents, and negotiating return to school;

• Ensuring healthy choices during pregnancy and safe delivery of the baby;

• Lobbying schools to accept child mothers and facilitating enrolment;

• Paying school fees, transport costs, and personal support costs;

• Training girls in childcare; and monitoring the baby’s health.

Your $90/month will provide a child mother with new hope by enabling her to realize her dream of a good education and becoming self-sufficient. For further information, please contact mail@sautimoja.org or go to www.sautimoja.org.

One Voice for Peace & Social Justice - NEW

Click on this photo link to view video overview of Sauti Moja's programs:

Sauti Moja links donors to the community initiatives of indigenous people, like the Maasai of Tanzania and the Borana and Rendille of Kenya. These initiatives include education of vulnerable youth, family and community health, providing livestock to widows and single mothers for food security, and peacemaking between communities in conflict. Local leaders have the power and ability to change their lives. We partner with complementary skills and additional resources to ensure their success!