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Omukunda gwetu ogu na omikundu odhindji. Ohatu tsu omukweyo omule gu oka kondungu yimwe ayike yomeya.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Ohatu hupu mokuhawala iikulya mbyoka ya gandjwa kaasihenda.
We waited for food donated by others.
Ohatu pata omagumbo getu kuyele omolwa aafuthi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Aanona oyendji oya thiga po osikola.
Many children dropped out of school.
Aanona yaakadhona oya kutwa ongaaniilonga yomomagumbo momikunda dhilwe.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Aanona yaamati otaa alaala nomapandaanda omanga yalwe ya kutwa ongaasitangombe moofaalama.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Uuna ombepo tayi pepe, oombapila niiyagaya yilwe ohayi kala ya hakela komiti nokomalugumbo.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Aantu ohaa tetwa kiitandu yomakende ngoka ga umbwa umbwa.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Esiku limwe ondungu yetu yomeya oya pwine po, niikwatelwa yetu oya li yaa na sha.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Tate okwa hiya egumbo negumbo koshigongi shomukunda.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Aantu oya gongala kohi yomuti omunene ya pulakene.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Tate okwa thikama e te ya lombwele ta ti: “Otwa pumbwa okulongela kumwe opo tu kuthe po omikundu ndhoka tu na.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma, okamati koomvula hetatu hoka ka li ka kuutumba koshitayi shomuti oka igidha, “Ngame otandi vulu okukwatha mokwoopaleka.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
“Aakulukadhi otaa vulu okulonga pamwe nangame tu kune iimeno tu mone iipalutha,” omukulukadhi gumwe osho a ti.
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Omusamane gumwe wo okwa thikama e ta ti: “Aasamane otaa ka hupa ondungu.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Atuhe otwi igidha newi limwe, “Otu na okulundulula onkalo yetu.” Okuza tuu kesiku ndyoka, atuhe otwa longele kumwe tu kandule po omikundu dhetu.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Rachel Nandjembo
Read by: Rachel Nandjembo
