By Suzzanne Pautler
A community thrives when its members take care of one another. That sense of community prevails here in Bofa, as evidenced each day. Necessary Arts is offering four days of workshops to the children of the community this week. The participants arrive early, participate fully, and happily recite poetry and sing songs for us. During the workshops, we see older siblings taking care of younger ones without any resentment or attitude.
Taking care of others and building community is the way of life. Throughout this journey, our dear friends Kerry and George are foremost in our minds as they have offered the beautiful grounds of Tulia for the workshops to take place. With their generosity, the peaceful setting of a garden full of papaya trees, hibiscus bushes, and coconut palms is the perfect shady spot to host 50-85 students.
A local football coach and referee, Furaha, volunteers her time to work with Necessary Arts on each of our visits. She immediately jumps in to translate or to lead an activity whenever an opportunity presents itself. It is obvious that she cares so much for the children of this community. Zuwadi takes care of the guests staying at the cottage, and also has been instrumental helping with the children this week. No matter the work or chores in which she is involved, whenever a child needs assistance, Zuwadi appears. She has taken numbers of children back to the toilet, has comforted the sad ones or those not feeling well, and then has walked them back home.
Our friend Answar is an instrumental member of this community. He has many talents and gifts and uses them regularly, not necessarily for his benefit, but for the benefit of the larger group. One area in which he excels is as a master chef of the delicacies of the area. He prepared biryani and beef (75 kilos of each) to feed a wedding party this weekend. And, of course, he invited us to join the party in the park outside of the church. The next day required him to prepare a similar feast for another wedding. He saved a bit of the biryani and added mutton for us to consume for lunch. Today he prepared an octopus for us with a coconut sauce he made from coconuts cut down and hulled here in the garden this morning. Tomorrow Answar is preparing a lunch for the 80 workshop participants. The menu includes pelau and beef, coleslaw, plantains, and hibiscus juice (also picked from the garden). By no means does he have to prepare meals for us, or for the children to conclude our workshop, but he seems to enjoy taking care of us, as well as all members of the community. This weekend, Answar took us on a number of errands he needed to accomplish so that we could see more of the community. When we visited the outdoor market, a bus pulled over to ask Answar for assistance. The bus driver needed representation to report a recent accident to the police, and knew Answar would have the poise, confidence and communication skills assist him. Answar is happy to lend a hand to help one of the members of his community.
Today, fifty participants arrived for the third workshop. They were eager to sing and dance "Jambo," sing "One Love" with hand motions, recite their "Let Peace Begin With Me" statements, perform their skits demonstrating peace, and play with the beach balls and skipping ropes provided by Donna Reeves from DAA back in Dubai. No matter the activity, the students all supported one another. I've never met any of their parents as the students walk over each morning and back home mid-day. The parents place great trust in us by allowing their children to participate in the workshops, an opportunity to spend the morning in an environment outside of church or school with three native speakers of English.
It is an honor to arrive as a stranger, yet feel so welcomed into the community. We are truly blessed and full of gratitude to all members of the community who have reminded us of the importance of getting to know our neighbors and our responsibility in taking care of one another. Thank you, Bofa.
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