More help from children
I have read with interest in Footsteps No 12 about involving children in development work. I, too, think it is a good and important thing to consider. I would like to share with you what we have done on our programme with children.
Christian Rural Service is a programme of the Church of Uganda, helping people to improve their well-being. In most cases we have been concentrating on working with adults, but neglecting children. This year I have tried to involve children aged 5-12 years. We were raising eucalyptus seedlings for our afforestation programme. A group of twelve children filled over 5,000 pots in two days.
We enjoyed working with them and would encourage others to include children in their development work because..
- they are easy to talk to
- they are very fast workers, once given clear instructions
- they are careful in carrying out tasks they have been given.
Each member’s efforts are important, and the contribution of children in development, however small, should be appreciated.
Titus Ayome, CRS - Madi/W Nile Diocese, Arua, Uganda
Tapeworm eggs
As so many before me, I would like to congratulate you on an excellent, very helpful and, above all, ‘human’ publication! May your inkwell never run dry!
I was interested to read the comments on composting toilets in the September issue, as I share this interest. A major disadvantage of these toilets is, I believe, that the heat of the composting process kills off all germs, eggs, etc, except for those of the tapeworm (after one year’s composting). As these are then ‘planted’ in the soil, I have heard that their presence makes the fertiliser unsuitable for use on plants designed for human consumption. I would welcome comments from both yourselves and readers on their own experience in this area.
Duncan Levinsohn, Solbacha L9, 573 97 Tranas, Sweden.
Editor...Richard Franceys agrees, saying that tapeworm eggs can lie dormant and revitalise after a 3-6 year period.
Spanish request
Congratulations on Paso a Paso. We work in five rural areas of Argentina with integrated projects combining literacy, home gardens, radio stations, social development and community development. Do you or any of your readers have material in Spanish for our radio stations? We would very much appreciate useful material which we could broadcast.
Jose Benito Bongarra, Centros Comunitarios Rurales Evangelicos
Tinogasta 5850, (1408) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hairy, fidgety Cuban sheep
Congratulations to Paso a Paso for its practical recommendations. The community where I live is called ‘Paz y Esperanza’ and we are all farmers and children of God.
I was very interested in the article about small livestock breeding and the benefits this brings to those who carry out this activity in these difficult times. We left our home in Ayacucho (where there are many terrorists) and have lived in the jungle area of Peru since 1984. We breed Cuban sheep with hair not wool. Their pasturing is difficult because you need to look after them all day and they are very fidgety. The alternative of a corral is suggested in Paso a Paso. In this way people could be free on study days and Sundays. The family gardens would also produce better!
Silas S Leiva, Paz y Esperanza, San Martin, Peru
The Fast Detection Method
I would like to say that Footsteps is of great benefit to my friends and myself. Here is a simple idea some farmers in my area have developed that we would like to share with others round the world. Do you have our problem of sometimes not knowing where your chickens, ducks or guinea fowl are laying?
Keep the bird confined for a few hours and then put some pepper on the vent. Let it go immediately. It will start running to the place where it is laying. You can use this method for all kinds of birds. We call it the ‘fast detection method’!
Raphael Y Ali, Catholic Agricultural Officer, PO Box 1, Tuna, Ghana
"Jesus, Master Carpenter of Nazareth, you have, through wood and nails, worked out man's full salvation. Use well your tools in this your workshop, that we who come to you in our rough state, may be changed to a truer beauty by your hand. Amen"
This beautiful prayer is above the entrance to the training workshops at CITC (Christian Industrial Training Centre), Pumwani, Nairobi, Kenya