COVID-19 CHALLENGE: OUR GAINS IN THE FACE OF FEAR

The scaring news came with a bang, like a pebble dropped in an ocean. Corona virus? What's that? We all querried from all corners. It first made me laugh because I have a friend who is named "Corona-Mary" and so, when I met her in Church, I cracked the Coro-joke with her, telling her to stay far from me. We laughed it off. But it later became serious and a global concern. This time, nobody told us to tell ourselves the truth.

Fear gripped me for real and I said to myself, this is time to ponder over so many issues of life. The planet. We truly need to recognise that we are dependent upon it and that this dependant is very good. News made the rounds that drinking hot lemon is curative. And I sad to myself, "Ah! So, I had been on the right path all along, and never even knew it until Covid19 forcefully landed with terrible impacts? Years back, I began to passionately plant lemon trees at my Father's backyard but my elder brother and his son cut them down, leaving only three of the tress. My brother said I planted the trees without seeking his consent first, as the "Man" in the house. I left it at that, and moved on. Today, as the news makes the rounds, he would realise the good I meant.

I am always moving on. I have a farm of my own. In the new neighborhood I moved into with my family, I engaged my children in clearing the dumpsters surrounding the house and we planted vegetables. Neighbours who had been here before us watched us in awe as we worked so hard, tucking our Bare hands (We had no hand-gloves)not minding the challenges-excreta, used Pampers, broken bottles, etc.

​​​​​​Our vegetable farm expanded and we added the Cassava plant. Cassava produces tubers that are used for the production of flour for snacks and can be eaten as food in so many others ways, including soaking in water and drinking with peanuts, milk and sugar. It is very satisfying and has lots of health benefits, as well as economic boosting effects.

so, when the lockdown became real, I looked outside my window and smiled with satisfaction, saying to myself, "Corona, there is indeed,a  special place for me to stay, and truly, stay away from your deadly harm. My farm."

So, I picked up my farm tools and with my family, off to work, we went. Neighbours peeped through their windows and in envy,saw us harvesting our crops. Bountiful harvest we got. We  are grateful to God.

As we exchanged greetings with some of the neighbours, I said to them, "You see the results of hardwork and cleaning up of the environment?" 

We proudly made our food, all planted and prossessed by us, with love. This attracted the women in the neighborhood and they came asking me (Now, Landowner, as the hitherto, riddicled me), for some portions to farm their crops. Gladly, I assisted them. Today, almost all the women are engaged in their farms, thanking me.

Sure, I know that one thing leads to another. I gave them some motivational talks on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, including nutrition and they need for them to get digitally friendly. I told that that I would send the story of my activities to my loving family members, who would be happy to read us. I advised them to key into my activities and see how they may be integrated into the global online community.

They are excited and happy and we have agreed that once the lockdown is over, we would begin our digital inclusion quest. 

To this end, I am using the lockdown to draw up a plan on how I can possibly assist the 20 women I found in my neighborhood, courtesy of COVID-19 lockdown, to get digitally aware, complaint and included from all its ramifications.

This is the step I have taken so far and to an extent, I made my lockdown into an impressive gain. Remains memorable. I have made new friends and with them, we are starting a movement to support women grow their own food, keep their environment clean and with the World Pulse family, they would begin to gain global attention and recognition.

It is true that we can All  turn our problems into our gains. Each and everyone of us can work towards ensuring that whenever opportunity comes knocking, it meets us prepared. Covid19 met me prepared.