DABW and the Village

Given my minamalistic outlook on life, one where I have little concern for many of the materialistic possessions many are preoccupied with, it was a welcome relief going back to Kenyatta - the village where my late Gran's charity is based. What was even more rewarding was taking Matt there for the first time, an experience I know he will never forget.

Amama with her clan of children

The charity, DABW, was founded over two years ago now and is aimed at community development with in the small village my Gran's nurse (Otillia) comes from. What started as a donation to build a fresh-water well, something the village had lacked in its previous 187 years of existence, has rapidly advanced into the village being granted the electricity they needed to build a corn mill and medical centre.

Chikunt and Miaso do their bit

With this being my second visit, having spent a few days there last year to see where the £7000 I raised was going, I knew what to expect - or at least I thought I did. As we drove down the dusty track, seeing all the innocent smiling faces of children who literally have nothing, the emotions I had experienced a year before came flooding back. Coupled with this being a place I feel my Gran's precence more so than usual it was an emotional return, but a return I was glad to be making.

Harry puts his back into it for a good cause

Matt and my arrival coincided with the start of the work on the corn mill, and there wasn't much time to settle in before we were both armed with pick-axes and spades and set to work on digging the trenches - although Harry (Otillia's brother) was mortified at seeing the blisters on our hands, after all we were his guests and he thought we should rather have been relaxing.

Despite his protests day two was another long slog with the spades as the trenches began to take shape, and Matt and I felt a great deal of satisfaction at being part of the village's development. In Harry's words we "were making history" by starting the process of turning the village into what will eventually become a small town. To know we are giving these people a better standard of life, and a better future is hugely rewarding and I look forward to continuing our families efforts there.

Of course the time we spent there would not have been the same without the constant interaction with the village's children, all of whom struck their own chord in my heart. However, there were two boys, Chikunt and Miaso, who Matt and I became very close with, to the extent that the moment we stepped out of Otillia's house in the mornings they were there waiting for us everyday.

Two happy trench diggers

Our love for them started on the first day when we took a break from digging to turn and see the boys, both aged five, with hoes in their hands and beaming smiles on their faces mimmicking the work we were doing. It may sound funny but that action alone made me realise how strong the community bond is here, with everyone playing their own significant part, no matter how big or small, something that is severly lacking in many parts of the Western world.

Proof of the hardwork

The time we spent in the village would not have been possible without the love and hospitality of Amama (Harry and Otillia's Mum), who went above and beyond to ensure our stay was as enjoyable as possible. In her eighties she is an incredible women who not only has three orphans living with her but is always there for all of the village's children. She cooked several feasts for Matt and myself that were fit for royalty, and all of this on a coal fire. Like I say she is a remarkable women, and I thank her profusely for the love she showed us.

Chikunt

It was with a great deal of sadness that we left the village, although there is every chance I will be back their in October for the opening of the corn mill - and from what I hear it will be quite a party. Harry's words were "a few goats will lose their lives that day", and given my love for both goat meat and the village it would be a shame to miss such a historic occassion.

DABW and the Village

Blantyre, Malawi