A Song For Generations
The red dirt road stretched into rural Togo for miles, its redness accentuated by an expansive blue sky freckled with cumulous clouds. As the vehicle slowed on the edge of Kove village, I heard singing drifting in the breeze like the clouds above. The closer we drew, the louder it grew. Stepping out of ADRA’s vehicle, I realized the entire village had turned out for this special visit from ADRA. They sang words I didn’t understand, but the joyful expression on their faces told me all I needed to know. Two months ago this village was a completely different place. Talking with Madame Agbobli Adjo Julienne, 35, and her family, I learned the village’s story.
“My village hasn’t always been this happy. We all remember life before ADRA came because it was not that long ago. For certain, our lives were different then.
“Our village was a dirty place. Trash was everywhere and we had no respect for ourselves, for others, or for cleanliness. Sanitation was a big problem for us with children going anywhere they pleased. Although we had a well in our village, we all drank from the river because that is what our ancestors did. Our children would play and swim in the lagoon where there are many water-borne diseases. They would often have fever, vomit, and diarrhea. Today we keep them away from there so they don’t become sick.
“We were ignorant at that time and didn’t know about the importance of school. We didn’t know about supporting a child during their studies so they can have a bright future and a career. Many of us adults were not able to read ourselves so we never emphasized the importance of education. But ADRA has changed this.
“It began with an ADRA agent that moved into our village. She started giving one-hour lessons twice a week. But she did much more than that. She would visit us in our homes and talk to us about our problems. She helped us realize so many things. She saw trash everywhere and taught us that diseases are spread by this especially malaria. When we found this out, our village formed a committee and we are now organized to stay clean and healthy.
“We used to only eat one thing a day for every meal– manioc (or cassava). But ADRA helped us learn to eat a variety of foods like fruits and vegetables that are available in the forest. In the past, I never cleaned dishes, I let the animals do it for me.
“We have seen many changes since ADRA came. Because of ADRA, my husband has learned better ways to love and support his children in their school and me in my work. He used to eat alone or with friends, but now the family eats together. Our children used to be afraid of him at times, but as you can see, they now love him. And this is not just in our family, but multiplied by many other families throughout our village.
“My family, village, and community have been taught incredible things by ADRA. Thanks to ADRA, we have learned to fish. Not in the sea, the oceans, or rivers, but fishing that support our own lives, improves our health, education, and the life God has given us. ADRA has given us a brighter future, which is why we sing and why we will continue to sing for generations.”
