Climate Change: A Reverberating Reality Hitting Home

Brief Editorial by Bernard Mwaba

Last week, my colleague Micomyiza Dieudonne, the project lead for "Community Action on Climate Change Adaptation," and I embarked on a journey to Southern Province, Zambia. Our destination was Chikuni, Monze, where we witnessed firsthand the stark realities of climate change impacting rural communities. These experiences paint a vivid picture that words alone struggle to capture fully.

In Chikuni, we met Joseph and his sibling, whose resilience amidst adversity left a lasting impression. Using a cattle wagon, the two brothers travel miles every other day to a local hand pump, where they draw water to replenish their family's reserves with about two dozen buckets. Despite the challenges this year has brought, they remain optimistic, hopeful that things will improve. Joseph is in grade 11, and his brother is in grade 7.

Nearby, my colleague and I were facilitating an activity with community members. We anticipated an audience of around 30 people for the play we organised. To our surprise, over 115 community members, young and old alike, gathered eagerly to learn about climate change and how they could address it. The play, animated in Tonga, the local language, taught the importance of forest preservation and the environmental impacts of deforestation. It also emphasised the significance of collaboration and solidarity, reminding us all that we are custodians of the earth and responsible for its health.

As we left Chikuni, we took a moment to visit Magoye Bridge. During my high school days at Canisius High School, we were warned to avoid the area due to the risk of drowning. In the peak of the rainy season, the bridge would be submerged, with water levels often rising higher than the bridge itself. Stories abounded of cars being swept away by the rushing waters. Today, Magoye Bridge stands as a stark reminder of changing times, reduced to an ornament on dry ground.

Our journey underscored the pressing need for climate action. The determination of individuals like Joseph and the eagerness of the Chikuni community to learn and adapt give hope for the future. This project, funded by Misereor, is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in combating climate change and fostering resilience.

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Let us all continue to work together, recognising our shared responsibility in preserving the environment for future generations. #ClimateChange #CommunityAction #JCTR