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Sida ǃgaroǃās ge ǂgui ǃgomsina ge ūhâ i. Sida ge gaxu saogub ǃnâ ǁgam-e xuris ǃaroma gere mâ.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Sida ge ǀkhurub huib ǂûn audoba gere ǃâumâ.
We waited for food donated by others.
Sida ge sida omde ǃoega gere ǂganam ǃnari-aon ǃaroma.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
ǂGui ǀgôan ge skola xu ge ǂoa.
Many children dropped out of school.
ǂKham ǀgôadi ge omǃanu-aose nau ǃgaroǃādi tawa sī gere sîsen.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
ǂKham axagu ge ǃgangu ǃnâ gere hâma ǀnîgu nau ǂgari-aon ǃgaroǃādi tawa sī gere sîsen hîa.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
ǂOab gere ǃgom, on ge ǂkhanin tsî ǀawon tsîna haidi tsî ǁgâuǂnamigu ǃnâ gere ǁhau.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Khoen ge ǁae tamase ra aoxūhe khôa hâ xlagu xa gere ǃgaohe.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Tsî i ge ǀgui tsē, ǁgam-e ge ǁhō ǀû, tsî sida di ǁgamǃgabaga ge ǀkhaiǃnâ.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ti dadab ge omsa xu oms ǁga ǃgû tsî khoena ǃgaroǃās ǂnûs ǁga gere ǁkhauǂui.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Khoen ge ǃās di kai hais ǃnāka ge ǀhao în ǃgâ.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Ti dadab ge khâi tsî ge mî, “Sada ge ǀguipa nî sîsens ge a, sada ǃgomsina oresa hōbas ǃaroma.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
ǁKhaisa kurixa Jumab hîa hais di ǁnâub ai ǂnôab ge ge ǃhao, “Tita ge hui ǁkhā, ǃanubes ǀkha.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
ǀGui kaikhoes ge ge mî, “Tarare khoedi ge tita ǀkha ǂûna ǃhana ǁkhā.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
ǀNî aob ge khâimâ tsî ge mî, “Aogu ge tsauba nî khao.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Sida hoada ge ǀgui dommi ǀkha ge ǃhao, “Hā re î da sada ûiga dawa.” ǁNā tsēsa xu da ge ǀguiba ge sîsen tsoatsoa, î da sida ǃgomsina oresa hōba.
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: Ngeve Shangombe
