Part of the community

On the last Saturday of the month, everything here shuts down for a few hours between 7am and 11am so that people may partake in public service work. Eric and I met at the sector office and after some hanging around we found out that the task of the day was to assist with the re-build of a school destroyed by bad weather. Like most things here, the scheduled time doesn’t mean much. We were the first volunteers to arrive (some “real” builders were already hard at work….just how hard I was yet to appreciate). Foundations were being dug for classrooms. All the work was done manually with people taking it in turns to use a limited number of tools. More hanging around ensued with the majority of people arriving by about 9. During this time, part of me was cursing the fact that I had missed a precious couple of hours in bed for nothing while another part was in no rush to demonstrate my building skills in front of a group of men! Women who had arrived were shown to a different area and I eventually followed, expecting/hoping for “lighter” work. That was not to be however -they were digging the foundations for a toilet block albeit in an area with slightly softer ground. I was handed a shovel and there were a few oohs and aahs before the whole place erupted into hysterics as I attempted to knock the hardened earth into pieces and shovel it away….and I don’t blame them one bit, I have neither the strength nor the technique for such work, pretty pathetic!!! The laughter was all in good spirits I hasten to add; as ever here in Rwamagana, everyone was really friendly and welcoming and in this instance, highly amused!

After the work a meeting is held. Local issues or details of upcoming events such as elections are communicated. On the agenda this month was what to plant for the current agricultural season. Then the matter of crops being stolen from farms was raised. It was claimed that some of the culprits were present and one poor fella had to stand up to identify himself!!! It was all very tame and people weren't fussed or angry. Often this is the way petty crimes are handled initially. If people re-offend, the police are involved. An interesting way of dealing with things I thought.

Overall - a fantastic experience - I was really struck by the sense of community spirit and am in awe of the women, it was incredibly demanding work but it didn’t faze them one bit!