Our globe has evolved rapidly through the years. It is such beauty to see us grow every single year that goes by.
Development is multi-dimensional, thus the need to be on the lookout for coordinating every environmental aspect, for sustainable growth.
Lately, women empowerment is at its peak, as is climate change. Are we pushing so hard? Are we forgetting other aspects? Are we forgetting the men? I am not sure.
A few weeks back a colleague of mine was conducting a focus group discussion, only to find out that men in the rural areas had started noticing the alteration in women, the zeal with which they worked and the authority they held in putting things together for their families.
It has been said lately that men have become so lazy, and women are taking on most of the responsibilities of caring for the homes, especially in most African rural communities. Women have become the bread winners.
One day while on the second floor at my sister’s, I heard so much hitting and banging from below; a wife was angrily shouting at his drunken husband and hurling his tinny bag of polythene at him, that contained all his belongings while saying all sorts of belittling words at him, largely, declaring his inability to pay rent, buy food and care for children.
From first impression, the woman’s outlook would give away a very vulnerable, less empowered woman, yet the position she held at this particular heat of the moment rendered her at different level. Evidently, the man was powerless, and she was unstoppable!!
She bid her husband off as she threw at him his little belongings, after all she was the sole provider.
I am not quite sure where she drew all strength to do that under watchful eyes of neighbours; had she had enough? must women treat their husbands this way? I still don’t think this is the empowerment we are campaign for.
How about we take a look at this woman through the lens of other women…
I have watched and interacted with many women in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, that are fending for their own families, with not a single support from their husbands or fathers of their children.
As if that’s not bad enough, these women don’t have a single source of income yet the burden to pay rent, feed, cater for medical needs of children is entirely upon their shoulders. The high cost of living doesn’t help either!
Weary women with baskets of mangoes, tomatoes and other fruits over their heads is quite a common sight on the streets of Kampala. They earn less than a dollar a day!
At the end of the day, they return home to a hungry house of 7 children on average, who most likely, never had any food to eat through the day!
It is heart wrecking to perceive the lifestyle these children are living.
What does a generation of a child born and living in this situation look like?
What can we do to ensure we all enjoy a better world?
Where are men in all of this?
I know of several women, having worked at an orphanage, with an average of 5 children. Typically, most of these children are from different fathers who are run a way, having no single hope of coming through for their families.
Imagine all five children having no chance to access quality education, living in unfriendly environment, living on empty stomach sometimes and not sure of when the next meal will be!
Not a good imagery right, Unfortunately, this is not a movie; It is real life that real people are experiencing, and this is not about to end unless we avert the root cause.
It is desirable that we envision and work toward a world where children and young people thrive. Through them, generations are built, nations enlarge, destinies are changed.
Parenting is the sole responsibility of both men and women. As we lookout for strategies to better our world, men must become present; take full responsibility, play the role model part in families, with women being their helpers.
It all starts from confines of marriage; raising lovable children, loving children unconditionally, letting children feel that they are the blessing they are meant to be, as stated in scripture, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Our world needs more people who are hungry for change. I desire a community where both men and women, girls and boys, children and adults live a life that is quite fulfilling.
” You don’t raise heroes; you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just on your own eyes” -Walter M. Schirra, Sr.
