Since 2010 we (Mark & Maggie) have continued our work with the Catholic University and College Students Group in Awassa. They have an active student leadership committee with lots of ideas and energy, so we accompanying “adults” play a mentoring role. This years’ group is particularly dynamic. In 2014, a new Catholic centre will open up here in Awassa city which will have a parish church, a kindergarten school and the main jewel, the brand new diocesan youth centre. We thought it would be great to start to get the young people involved to breathe some life into this construction site soon to be pastoral hub.
So we approached the student group to see if they would take on the design and planting of the gardens surrounding the church. They loved the idea and in a flash, they were running with the project with spirited initiative. In no time they had formed a small committee with engineering and agriculture students, inspected the site, took measurements, toured some nice gardens in the city for inspiration and sketched a design. One student devoted an entire day to travel three hours away and select and purchase the plants. Another student visited the site the day before and marked out the plan in the soil. And so last Saturday the students rallied their peers and over 40 came out and planted in one swoop! We divided into small teams and with an air of controlled chaos, the work began: hoes swinging, spades digging, manure flying and saplings dropping. We laughed, sang and before we knew it the day was done – 1,200 plants and flowers in place. We then sat in the shade and shared bananas, bread and sodas. Everyone was happy with the day’s good work.
Years from now when the hedges are full and the trees tall, the young people involved will look on and smile silently knowing how it all happened. Most importantly they will have learned a gem of a lesson – we can achieve grand and beautiful things if we are willing to put in the effort and work together.
– Maggie, Mark and Emebet Banga, Comboni Lay Missionaries, Awassa, Ethiopia
