Mvwula

Mvwula–a Tonga name that when translated means rain! Rain means wealth for a dry parched country.

Mvwula is a brilliant and very humble grade 11 sponsored student and without a doubt, he is a blessing to his classmates and to this sponsorship program. He consistently is the highest scoring student we have at this time. He is a double orphan with two brothers. He has been raised by his very wise and humble aunt. She has eight children of her own.

At the young age of 18 years Mvwula has acquired some very mature life perspectives. It is my observation that childhood is shorter in Zambia–difficult circumstances mature kids early. He writes that sometimes people misunderstand one another (how perceptive!) and he has learned from his aunt that at those times people need to come together and discuss the matter! He says he is so grateful that in the big family that he’s grown up in that none of the members has an unforgiving spirit or vengeance. What a blessing for this boy! He also writes that there are times in this big family when one could feel neglected. But then he goes on to explain that things do not always happen as we would like them to—imagine that!

Mvwula’s poem
Children of the World

We–the children of the world–we are the children of today. Tomorrow belongs to us. To us alone it belongs. Let us have a stake in the decisions that affect our tomorrow.

We are the children. Have pity on our plight. In this pitiless world we need shelter, we need food, and we need education. Above all, we need love, patience and care and comfort.

We are the children of the world, and leaders of tomorrow. Why do you freeze our future and deny us of our childhood, national heritage and fruits of development? Why do you turn us into refugees in alien lands? Oh why?

You multinationals–you damage the environment for your present leisure against our future pleasure. See all the deforestation and hunger that you’ve caused by your mining activities! By throwing our parents out of jobs you’ve created great trouble to us. Because you shot down free education, free medical care and access to clean water. And AIDS has killed our breadwinners.

You turned us onto the streets. Many of us have ended up on the garbage heaps of drugs. Some of us have turned into prostitutes and street vendors, in order to escape the tortures of the remote-control led world.

Tomorrow belongs to a new generation, so leave our portion undefiled if you truly believe in sustainable development. You waste billions of money for betterment of your pleasure. Be involved in shaping our future pleasure. Be equitable. Share the goodies.

Help us–the children of today. Tomorrow belongs to us.

Mvwula H (grade 11 pupil at Namwianga Christian Secondary School, Zambia)