It’s a Small World
by Katherine Solan
If you’ve been with Dwankhozi Hope on this journey, you’ve probably heard us say that what we are doing together in the community of Dwankhozi is not about charity, it’s about justice and relationship. I recently came across a quote that highlighted this belief yet again.
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” – Lilla Watson
When our Zambian Project Manager, Moses Masala, met with us during his first visit to the U.S., this message became more real. Many of you were able to gather with us on a cozy fall evening to hear him share, in his own words, a bit of his personal history of what education meant to him and his siblings as they grew up not far from Dwankhozi. He shared with us the progress on the current DH projects, talked about what’s to come, and answered questions about details of life in Dwankhozi as well as the challenges and hopes of the students and teachers. After Moses shared, the energy in our gathering took on shades of deeper excitement as conversations began to percolate between groups of people, sharing thoughts and ideas of what they might be able to bring to the work of Dwankhozi. Having Moses with us that night was a very special gift and we were honored to spend time with him. For all of us there, it was another line of connection to add to the extraordinary bridge of partnership that we are all building together, piece by piece, conversation by conversation, idea by idea, child by child, teacher by teacher, heart by heart.
I found myself marveling at the of people gathered that evening, from so many walks of life and from different corners of the country as well as the globe, all coming together and spinning these lines of connection with one another and the mission. As the world grows ever smaller and more closely drawn together, with virtually immediate accessibility to the corners of the earth, it is arguable that we each have a very real, and growing, responsibility to find ways to work together toward our shared goals of liberation and progress. Yes, much of the world is broken and unjust but there is yet more possibility, courage, imagination, innovation, and Love to counter this brokenness. I encourage each of us to take a little time to reflect what this means to you, in your life, in your work, and in your relationship with Dwankhozi. Thank you to the entire Dwankhozi team of volunteers, donors and other friends, here in the States, Canada, Zambia and elsewhere in the world, for this incredible eye-opening and heart-expanding journey!
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