Gambella/Isiolo Update
It has been a rough few months for the village of Gambella, as well as for the nearby town of Isiolo, and the entire surrounding area. The rainy season is approaching its end, and while there have been plenty of clouds, they have produced unusually low amounts of rainfall; unfortunately, this is becoming a pattern.
Even more heartbreaking than the lack of rain though, is the violence that has plagued the area for months. I’m hearing that there haven’t been any killings in Isiolo in about three weeks, but all of the shootings have taken a toll. My wife made a dear friend when we were in Gambella last summer, and we found out that her sister was shot and killed on the road from Isiolo to Gambella about three weeks ago. She had young children that she left behind.
It’s hard to describe how difficult it is to sit here so far away, and hear updates about attacks and violence happening to people that we know, and love, and spent time with. We, of course, would be powerless even if we were there. Our friends’ lives are being ripped apart—and sometimes ended—and there’s not much we can do to end it. But we’re here for them, and they know that. And knowing that they have friends on the other side of the planet, ready to help them get back on their feet when the violence ends, is something I believe gives them hope. And they do have hope now that they didn’t have 4-5 years ago: hope for an education; hope for an income; hope for food from farming and husbandry; and hope for health and wellness. That’s why we partnered with them, and that’s why we will continue to push on.
Violence in Isiolo
I received sad news this morning, from our friends in Isiolo (the town near our village of Gambella). Violence has been escalating in Isiolo, and the surrounding area in the recent weeks. As drought continues to crush the area, resources are becoming more and more scarce. People are just trying to survive, and are becoming desperate.
Due to the violence, the school in Gambella has been temporarily closed. Most of the people from the village have left Gambella, and have gone to Isiolo where they feel they will have more safety. Many men have stayed in the village, to protect it should there be an attack.
On Saturday, two men from Gambella were walking from Isiolo back to the village, when they were shot and killed. We drove on that same road (pictured at right) twice a day every day we were in Kenya this summer. At this point I am not sure if any of us met the men that were killed, but I can’t tell you how sad I was to hear this news this morning.
This is reality. Since I went on my first trip last summer, I’ve realized how “messy” this business is. There’s no magic bullet that makes it all go away. The bottom line is that this work involves people, and relationships—both of which can be messy. Throw in some real life-and-death issues, and the results can be unpredictable. But that’s why we’re there. Because we care, and we want to offer hope and a different way of thinking.
Before and after pictures. On the left is Boru’s house as we left it after framing it out for him in August 2010. On the right is what his house looked like in July 2011, after he completed the rest of it.
Tensions in Isiolo
There have been tensions, including violence and a number of fatalities, in the area around Isiolo. Isiolo is the town nearest to our village of Gambella. The drought that is so severely affecting the horn of Africa is hitting Isiolo and surrounding villages as well. These are tough times, leading to desperate acts.
We’re praying for more rain, and that crops can grow and livestock can graze—and that people would have hope, so that cooler heads would prevail. I’m so thankful for our partnership with Gambella. They have hope now that they wouldn’t have had if facing this drought several years earlier. I will provide more updates as I learn more.
Students sitting at a new desk that we (volunteers and Gambellans) built this summer.
Rain in Gambella!
After months and months of waiting for rain, the town of Isiolo, and surrounding
villages finally have some rain. As I understand it, they haven’t had rain since we left there this summer—which has been well over two months! Even when we were there, the land was extremely dry. This has been a serious problem for them, and hopefully there will be more rain to follow, but for today, we will rejoice!
Image: prozac1 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Here are a couple shots in front of one of the new school buildings in Gambella. Some of the people from our team of volunteers in July painted the Gambella Primary School sign.
The teaching schedule at the Gambella Primary School. They’ve come a long way from when they used to occasionally meet under a tree to learn—just a few short years ago!
When we went to Gambella this summer, I had the chance to address the people in the village. I have thought in the past about what I would say to them if I had the chance, but when the time actually came, I couldn’t remember any of those things. It was great fun though, to reconnect with my old friends in the village! Hassan, one of the local GHNI workers, translated for me.
(Source: youtube.com)
Here’s a brief tour of the new wellness center in Gambella. We built the tables, desk, and benches during our trip there this summer.
(Source: youtube.com)
