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Kijiji kyako kewore ukiwa ufoi. Luleoroka mstari fuleshi lukewera iraiya mringa fukeuka mfongonyi.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Lulewera iyambilia ndarama ya kyelya.
We waited for food donated by others.
Luleshinga mba zaru kyukwanyi koiouo wiwi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Wana wafoi walera shule.
Many children dropped out of school.
Wana wa kika walerunda shirundio shijiji sha mraseni.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Wana wa kisoro waleraraa ifo kijijinyi na wengi walerunda mashambenyi ko wandu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Otanu lukocha, lukoiria makaritasi hafanyi lukoharunduzia mashirinyi na nduma ya mba.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Wandu waleweho na shifunjo sha chupa sheshiwize sakenyi.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Ko uro siku imu, mfongo fulesia mringa na shinungu sharu shikaomia.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Auye oko nalechumia mba zose aketerewa wandu wache kirembonyi kya kijiji.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Wandu waleramia wanda ya ikiri linganyi wakaaranyia.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Auye oko naleoroka kaamba, “Lukundi lutaramane lumarise ukiwa woru.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma, mana o maka nane neramie irambenyi la ikiri, nalerera kaamba, “Njichiirima tarama isanja.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Mrumka umu naleamba, “Oso waka luchiirima warana lureme.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Mrumi ungi naleoroka kaamba, “Womi waisuma ndua.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Lose kimu luleamba, “Lukundi lualache maisha haru.” Wokya mfiri fo, lulerunda kimu lumarise ukiwa woru.
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: Rogath Lauwo
Read by: Rogath Lauwo
