Cassava (manioc) leaves
Cassava is a common crop here in Kenya, grown for the starchy edible roots. I have learnt from a medical book that cassava leaves are edible and contain seven times more protein and more vitamins than the roots. However, we have no tradition of eating the leaves as food. Is this really true? Joel M Taiti, PO Box 236, Makueni, Kenya.
EDITOR: Cassava leaves are indeed edible, high in vitamins A, B and C and the younger, fully formed leaves contain the highest levels of protein. Cassava leaves, however, contain a poison which must be destroyed by boiling for at least 15 minutes. They must never be eaten raw and are best added in small quantities to stews and soups.
Problems with bats
Footsteps is so informative and entertaining, I feel like reading it again and again. Thank you for the good work you do in keeping us busy!
I’m hoping readers can help with advice. Here in Marsabit, bats have become a great problem. Instead of living in caves and trees, they are making their homes in our roofs. Their droppings rot away our ceilings and smell. During the mating season they make so much noise that people remain awake all night. How can I chase these animals out of our roofs. Can I use their droppings in a useful way?
Dominic N Kithendu, PO Box 129, Marsabit, Kenya.
EDITOR: Bats are helpful to have around the home. Some bats can eat hundreds of flying insects every hour including mosquitoes. However they are not pleasant or healthy to have in the house. The best way to get rid of them is to hang a light nylon mesh or plastic sheeting over all the openings which the bats use. It should hang at least half a metre below the entry point. The bats will be able to leave the roof but unable to find their way back. After three days, when you are sure all the bats have left, seal up the holes. This must not be done when there are young bats in the roost. (This information was adapted from ECHO Development Notes 66.)
Do readers have any other advice?
Doves of hope
In our area, blind people are beggars and a responsibility not only for their families but also for society. Here in Togoville, the Institute of the Blind (IAT) takes in blind people as residents, and gives them an education. The youngest ones go to school and can study using books in braille to university level. Older people are helped with vocational training (manual work). Apart from this education, the blind people enjoy other activities – they have a choir and an orchestra which lead the mass on some Sundays and on special occasions.
Recently they celebrated their 15th anniversary with a drama and concert. The children released doves as a symbol of hope and peace.
They are looking for partners able to help them to set up a sustainable development project to enable blind people find employment after leaving IAT.
Amouzouvi Blèwoussi Max, Associacion Brimax, BP 3182, Lomé, Togo. E-mail: asbrimax@hotmail.com
Counselling skills
I am very committed to offering my skills and understanding to run counselling courses and in helping groups plan their future work. I have provided such courses for students, field officers working with teenage mothers and headteachers. My personal driving principles, which I encourage others to share during the training, include:
- making friends with my past, focusing on the present and being optimistic about the future
- having the love of friends and the respect of my enemies
- having my responsibilities as my focus, rather than my rights
- loving the unlovable, giving hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless and encouragement to the discouraged
- knowing that success doesn’t make me and that failure doesn’t break me
- being secure in who I am, at peace with God and in fellowship with mankind
- looking back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down with compassion and up with gratitude
- knowing that ‘He who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of all.’
Isaac B Muthamah, Agape Fellowship Centre, PO Box 1948, Machakos, Kenya.
Skills on tanning
I live in an area where there are a lot of livestock. At present, most of the skins and hides of animals are thrown away due to a lack of skills in processing the hides. Can anyone help with technical knowledge of processing hides and running a small scale tannery?
Ofora Mchan, PO Box 498, Babati, Tanzania.
Committed to sharing information
CETEP (Centre for Popular Technology Management) has supported people for eleven years in their search, application, use and evaluation of suitable technologies which will help them improve their quality of life. Our Rural Development Programme has helped with such things as organic manure, wood burning stoves and coffee processing. We also support groups in developing production, organisational and marketing skills. Finally, we have an information technology centre designed to be both appropriate and popular which is almost unique in this country. We congratulate Footsteps on your simple, direct style which makes your magazine important reference material for many people from other organisations who visit our documentation centre.
Javier Vazquez, CETEP, Apartado Postal 9, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. E-mail: aalzuru@dino.conicit.ve
A young old doctor
Dr S N Amin is still working as a medical officer and superintendent at the age of 91. After a varied career, he found the Lord in 1966 and has served as a missionary doctor ever since. He now works 15 hours a day for Nareshwar Charity Hospital and still drives an ambulance. He also cares for sick animals and donates much of his salary to the poor patients fund and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He is called ‘old in age but young in spirit’ by those around him!
Shree Rang Adadhoot Hospital, Nareshwar, Post Sayar, via Ankaleshwar 393 107, Gujurat, India.
An appreciative poem
We have journeyed together and enjoyed every issue of Footsteps for the past ten years. We have used the information to motivate our health workers and volunteers. The new ideas and Bible studies have been very helpful. Here is a poem with our appreciation:
Far-reaching issues to the world’s farthest corners
Other languages overcoming obstacles
Outlook outgoing, giving opportunities
Think to tell others the good news of Footsteps
Serving others wherever we are
Tens of thousands touching each other’s lives
Exciting, encouraging, entertaining
Positive thinking and acting brings success
Sensitive to the needs of others.
Sister Lucia Lynch, Chipini Health Centre, PO Box 4, Chingale, Malawi.