Life here is challenging...

Donkey cart filled with jerrycans.

But not for me.  Yes, I do live a simpler lifestyle compared to what I had back home, but then again, I chose to live this experience. No, I’m talking more about the challenges that the people of Dilla face on a daily basis.  My living situation is actually very good compared to those who live outside the Salesian compound.  The Sisters’ home is serene, clean, and more importantly, it has its own supply of water.  However, this past month, the residents of Dlla had to deal with a two-week water shortage in the middle of the dry season.  Normally, water is supplied to the city only once a week during which time families have to store up enough for cooking, washing, and drinking to last them for the week.  In the streets, you see children and women carrying Gerry cans to fill their water; boys also drive donkey carts stacked with these cans of water to sell. So you can only imagine how difficult life was for them when their already limited supply of water was suddenly cut-off for two weeks without a proper explanation from the authorities.

Trucks being washed in the river.

Nearby rivers and creeks also serve as water sources for these people; however, water levels are already very low.  Also, the river water is dirty and polluted as people use it to wash not only their clothes but their motor bikes, trucks, and donkey carts. As a result of the poor, dirty water supply, many people contract bacteria-related illnesses as well as malaria, typhus and typhoid.  The health clinic operated by the Salesian sisters get hundreds of these patients every week where they receive low cost medical assistance (TB and malaria medicine is actually given for free as part of a government initiative).

Children carry jerrycans every day 

as part of their chores.  

Yet, life goes on for these people and they some how cope with these challenges.  Our first-world problems such as getting 24-7 Xfinity/Internet access or finding the nearest Starbucks pale compare to worrying about getting access to the most important source of life, water.  

Sunday = Fun Day

Animators being animated.

Every Sunday afternoon, around 100 children come to the Salesian compound for Sunday school, or as they say in the Salesian family, Oratorio.   They spend about 3 hours singing, playing and learning other lessons such as English.  The children are led by the Sisters and several young “animators”, high school girls who also grew up through Oratorio.   

This is a special time for the children as it gives them the opportunity to have fun, be creative, and learn other valuable life lessons in a caring, supportive and educational setting. Most of the children who attend are young girls from the ages of 5-12 that come from the town while on the other side of the compound, the Fathers hold Oratorio for the boys. 

Seeing their bright faces and smiles on Sunday afternoons 

is the highlight of my week.

A mural at Don Bosco High School.

The Salesian tradition of holding Oratorio started with Don Giovani Bosco In Turin. He gathered the boys who were being exploited during the Industrial revolution and taught them work-life skills.  Around the same time, Mary Mazzarello was doing the same for young girls in the Italian town of Mornese.  

This spirit of educating poor, young children has endured since then and spread across the world; the Salesians are active in around 130 countries.  I am happy that I have chosen my mission to help the children/students of Dilla, even if it’s only by teaching English.  As Don Bosco once said, “educating the poor is the highest form of charity.”