NEWS
At exactly 0930 hrs, about 25 SRIC staff members touched down Ekumeni Primary School – located an hour’s drive outside Siteki Town. The objective was to assist put up fence around the school teachers’ quarters, maize fields and soccer playing field.
Travelling in two Kombis, the team left Manzini branch just after 7.00am. The spirits were as high as they could be and the mood was buoyant. It was as if someone had won the biggest lotto jackpot. The team stopped briefly for breakfast at Siteki Hotel. There was so much energy flying around, one could tell that everyone was willing and ready to work and after negotiating the coarse and sometimes pebbly gravel road, the team arrived Ekumeni.
In anticipation of the scorching sun oft associated with this part of the country, it was understandable that most of the team members were in caps and cricket hats. But the weather had other plans. The team was welcomed by a light drizzle, and there was enough evidence to suggest it had been raining earlier in the morning. The clouds hadn’t completely covered the sun; it was slightly overcast – perfect weather for working outdoors. The scene was set and the team was ready!
First up was the inspection of the area to be fenced – a piece of land stretching over 200 metres. Then the team had to move each of the 30-metre long fences from the classrooms – where it was stored – to where it was going to be put up: a distance equivalent to half a kilometre. Working in pairs and in trios, it took the team less 30 minutes to move about 10 roles of fence. And while some were moving the fence, others began installing it. Each 30-metre role of fence was its own challenge, especially give the uneven ground that was fenced. To ensure it was straight and tight, the fence had to be pulled twice – once at the bottom and once at the top. It was a process that required patience, energy and determination.
But such was the teamwork on display that the work was soon completed – perhaps sooner than planned. The whole process unfolded as though the team had experience in executing such tasks. From the pulling and tightening of the fence to securely fastening it to the poles, everything appeared as easy and as effortless as breathing.
While the team was heavily engrossed in fencing, the weather was quickly changing. In a short space of time, it moved from slightly overcast to cloudy. It was not only a sign that it was about to rain but also that the work was complete. As the team was tightening the last pieces, a mild drizzle was upon it. Some ran for cover, while others decided it wasn’t worth their attention but whatever the case, about 230 metres of land had been fenced in just over 3 hours.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with some members of the community who were also there to assist, it was time, yet again to hit the road. Without a doubt, the work carried out had sapped everyone out of energy but contentment and pride were visible for all to see. Everyone had put in every last ounce of energy to make this exercise a success. But beyond that, it was the satisfaction brought by the knowledge that the work carried out would benefit the community of Ekumeni, especially the children to whose future education is critical, if not everything.