June 29, 2013
I spent the morning with the most marginalized and
stigmatized members of society: the disabled, women, and HIV/AIDs positive
individuals. It is Saturday and Helen’s
weekly TRMEGA meeting for which they are currently working on microloans. The people in her group can borrow small
amounts of money from the community bank for six months to a year and are
encouraged to build their own incoming generating capacity through activities
such as tailoring, growing and selling vegetables, trading foodstuffs at the
market, repairing shoes, and raising chickens and livestock for eggs and milk
respectively.
Helen introduced me to the group (in Swahili of
course) and I replied, “asante sana, nafurahi kukufahamu” (thank you very much,
I’m pleased to meet you). It was a small
group today: three women, two disabled men, and three children who were
representing their parents (out of about 35 people). The men came in wheelchairs, except I didn’t
recognize them as such right away.
Unlike wheelchairs in the U.S., these cumbersome contraptions resembled
adult-size “Big Wheel” tricycles, made with bicycle wheels and operated by hand
pedals attached to a chain on the front.
They must make getting around the rough roads easier, as they seem a bit
more rugged, yet their large-size and awkward nature cannot be ignored. I guess mobility comes at the expense of
convenience. I cannot imagine being
disabled here. It is difficult enough
for even an able-bodied person to walk around on these dirt death traps they
call roads (I swear a trip on a rock or divot every ten feet). To be bound to a rolling machine must be
horrible, yet these men remained in good spirits and one is even expecting a
child with his wife soon. After poking
around the office a bit, I noticed that the motto of TRMEGA is “Saving the
Vulnerable and Marginalized.” I
good-heartedly told Helen that I think it should be “empowering” instead of
saving, because she’s doing just that.
My homestay mom is an inspiration, really a role model with an enormous
heart and will to help others.
More of the homestay garden
Gifts and handicrafts for sale
This painting sums up the work of TRMEGA pretty well
oh those crafts look just lovely.
ReplyDelete