The Price for Illetracy
The wraths of Climate change
affect both those who well understand what this phenomenon is and those who do
not. During the Millennium summit when
189 countries signed the Millennium development goals (MDG) in Newyork, 2000,
there was a growing understanding that poverty, development and climate change
are intertwined. Efforts for economic and social development have been largely
successful but have been countered by natural disasters such as famine,
hurricanes and tsunamis all related to climate change. There was a resolve to
increase understanding of these problems, their causes and also to improve
chances of innovation for adaptation. The second of the seven MDG’s is to
achieve universal primary school education by 2015. That is a short three years
from now and it would be inaccurate to report this as having been achieved in
many parts of the world.
The adage that innocence dwells
from wisdom and never with ignorance, or ignorance is bliss might as well have
been demolished when they tore up the walls of Berlin. In the hills of Iveti
Location in Eastern Kenya, where electricity, internet and smart phones are as
peculiar as a crown on a bull’s head, we met the innocent face of little Mumo. He
is a standard 4 pupil which is equivalent to level 4 in elementary school but
knows not of climate change. Mumo is oblivious of the increasing temperatures
that force his mother to stay up all night queuing to fetch water or the excess
of it from the predicted rains that have hit the area since the visit a month
ago due to changing climatic patterns.
He probably helps in the farm every
year in picking coffee beans during the harvest season but has no idea what
happens to it afterwards. Maybe they use coffee to make necklaces, furniture or
for making dresses, he does not know. This is common in his village where although
they plant coffee, many have never had the luxury of drinking a cup of
processed coffee. They don’t care either since their needs are more basic than
that. With just one primary school in this area, Mumo walks seven kilometers
everyday to get the free primary education offered by the government. The ratio
of teachers to pupil is 1:60 and there has never been a library in the only
school in the area.
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Coping with illiteracy by 2015 is
a goal that will weather with time if these conditions continue as deplorable
as they are. Going to school for these children and many in rural Kenya means
that they will not be married off early and they will learn new crafts like
weaving, modeling and carving that earn their families income. Many have learnt
of strategies to protect soil and water by mulching, terracing, building stone
gabions and filling up rills with stone to prevent soil erosion. These tactics
have enabled their families to feed themselves and have enough surpluses that
are sold to earn income. Mumo’s family makes almost $70- $250 per month from
the sale of vegetables which enables the father to go to buy books and also
cloth the family. .png)
90% of all 48 tribes in Kenya
practice some form of female genital mutilation (FGM). Some girls have escaped
(FGM) by getting educated thus shun these dangerous practices that risk the
health of the girls and spread HIV as the same blade is used on all the girls
in a particular day without any form of hygiene or sterilization being applied.
Many girls have died from this practice and many NGO’s have focused on
eliminating this practice. .png)
Submitted by Carol Gichobi for Project Survival Media (PSM)
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