There were no enough caps for all
the attendees in today’s meeting. What the facilitators did after coming in
late was to distribute to those who had already arrived. They also know that
people come to such meetings late yet their eating into time was not near to
the last comer who arrived barely a closing remark away. She may have received
a text message that said that money would soon be distributed. To such an
attendee, she is a winner for she was not bored by the many words and only had
a drink and snacks.
Such meetings are only possible
with money. Organizers were ‘respectfully’ informed. The attendant will come
because there is something for him. The facilitator will show up because the organization
has a budget for that. The Organization will plan for it because the funder
wired a fortune. None in the room is a sincere attendant- driven by a personal
urge to be part of progress. All are beneficiaries- not givers. If money could get people out of poverty, there would be no slums
When one of the late attendees
came at the registration desk to ask for a cap, I had no words for him. I am
that kind of person who asks people to use their eyes before using their
brains. Registration at the desk that was inside the facilitation room
continued all through as more Adam and Eves streamed during the meeting. There
was no veranda outside to keep us from the scorching sun and the morning was
equally tough-freezing. Why should people who come to meetings late write their
names? It depends.
When the speaker ate into time
for the allocated period was way consumed, I looked at the faces of the
participants. They had no much. What I was thinking about was the phone call
that was made- ‘200 chapatis packed with a mandazi and the sodas’ expected to
arrive. Was it necessary to provide the snacks to a focused group discussion
session?
A missionary I know complained
that each time she meets the Post Test Club women, they always expect a packet
of 2kg corn flour. To them, meetings are not only a forum to share common
knowledge but also to get a meal from. I love food a great deal- but never
invite me for a meal that aims to entice. As a classmate said that she wanted
to do a unit proposal project on the effects of incentives to community mobilization
I thought it was a right topic that I will contribute in. But you know, campus
degree education is crowded, lecturers range from demotivated to otherwise busy
hence copy pasting a project researched elsewhere. To those who would wish to
study and learn-on their own- the future is theirs.
The caps were accompanied by
T-shirts. From my previous posts, you know what I way. When I received the XL
T-shirt, you can sense my facial expression. Because it is for free, don’t
refuse Lung’afa. If you had contributed for it, complains would be all yours.
The T-shirts were only for us- the volunteering students from the MP’s office
who were to help in registration and event organizing. I don’t think I
participated because I wanted anything from them.
To say is very different from
what the heart really expects. When I told the Director to the organization I
volunteer in that I have no motivation towards more money in my profession he
chuckled. I do not know how to explain what I want. I am writing this blogspot
voluntary aiming to share experiences- I claim no critical favour. Sometimes
needs may drive you to ask for capital favours- but let it be the end. The end
should be in the kind of knowledge got and the kind of activity accomplished.
It happens that people never see
activities as an end. Life can be very twisting with forked needs to
accomplish. If I participated in cleaning a bench- that is an end; it is one of
the activities that will add up to the successful meeting. When I take my mind
out in confusion to think if people will notice my efforts or if they will buy
to the incoming knowledge, I get confused.
As some wait for me to issue them
certificates for coming to a meeting that only lasted for two hours, I shake my
head side-ways. The Dean of Students refused to be signing certificates every
day. Why should one be given a certificate for an hour event? He could ask.
Thinking about it, there is big sense. Students want to hear of a
certificate-end event. They come like it was a comedy show long before exams.
Promise them T-shirts and lunch and you will not walk alone towards a children
home. If you fail any of the promises, bet me they will not come next time even
if you booked the school bus for they do not want to waste their time.
As the meeting today came to an
end, some could not wait for the Chief to say the last word. They were already ¾
off the bottle and a nylon paper thrown on the floor in which the snacks were.
Some later moved to crowd and serve self. No one wanted to think how the room
came into organization and help in taking the chairs to a nearby hall. I looked
forward to removing the baggy thing once the facilitators disappeared (Most
walked away unsure of registering to the new idea). But the venue owners were
still ‘talking’ to her.
‘It was a nice experience,’ I
will tell the diary come bed time. Though many facilitators have recognized,
written and complained of this, it continues to be a motivational factor in our
time. We do not yet have citizens willing to treasure information and provide
free audience and resources.
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| In all, we are begging. Picture Source:lefolaunga.com |
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