Harambee Sustainability Project

From our blog: Town Hall Recap: Pulling Together

Our group is about halfway done with construction work for this week as we make final pushes to set up the people of Phillipi for sound business ventures and plans to maintain the communal garden that will be completed Friday afternoon. Construction work include tasks such as carrying large beds of wood across fields that are to hold future garden beds, pile-driving rocks with whimsical pix-axes, and coming up with quick solutions to expedite the collective process; tasks that are definitely not for the typical college student. Needless to say, one can easily lose one’s sense of purpose in a sea of back-breaking frustrations.

Luckily, I was able to break away from the group today and attend a town hall meeting in Phillipi to put things into perspective. The people of this township who showed up to the event were extremely warm and welcoming. The men and women who would usually greet us with customary handshakes, characteristic of the region, greeted us with open arms, literally, with their cordial hugs.

Plates of snacks with chips, trail mix, and candy were set out, coupled with a lot of dancing and singing at this lively event. They even prepared a generous hot meal for lunch with locally prepared dishes of meat, rice, carrot, and cabbage. When I think about how costly the feast must be to put on, I begin to understand the significance of this remarkable gesture. Combined with the emotional testimonies I was so fortunate to have witnessed, I further realize how dedicated the community is in creating a better environment for Phillipi and how appreciative they are for the help we have to extend. Let’s pull together!

—Montana DelColle

Harambee Sustainability Project — Town Hall Recap: Pulling Together  

Philippi garden construction plan for the week :) let's go HSP!