Huron Expositor, 2007-12-19, Page 2Pogo 2 The Huron Expositor • December 19, 2007
- -News
Whitmores raising money for Mozambique garden
From Page 1
whose families have died of AIDS.
That's the biggie," says Whitmore.
"And, I thought a garden would do
that. There's no sense taking over
wheat - once it's gone, it's gone.
They need a hand up, not a hand
out," he says.
Whitmore's journey to
Mozambique began in July when
the United Church's world outreach
committee, knowing he and his wife
had led groups on travel excursions
before, asked him if he'd be interest-
ed to take a group of adults on an
educational tour of the south-east
African country next August. The
12 -day trip in September was
preparation for that trip.
"I knew nothing about
Mozambique before that trip. The
first thing I wondered was would I
be safe and would I get sick," he
remembers.
Mozambique lies above South
Africa along the south-east coast. It
gained its independence from
Portugal in 1975 and then suffered
through a 16 -year civil war which
ended in 1992. It has also been dev-
astated by floods in 2001 and 2006
which required massive resettle-
ment.
While Whitmore's trip began with
the loss of his luggage and digital
camera, he says living in the same
clothes for more than a week put
him on the same level as the people
who lived in mud and stick houses.
As for the loss of the camera,
Whitmore says it allowed him to
"really see them with my eyes and
store the images in my heart."
Because of the "scorched earth
policy" of the civil war, anyone with
I
educated about health - die before they reach age five from
particularly AIDS - and malaria," he says.
practical survival skills. Whitmore was again impressed by
"The program is a a congregation that travelled 57
cross between CGIT miles on foot to thank the United
(Canadian Girls in Church group for previous Bona -
Training) and 4-H and the tions that had helped build a school.
goal is to raise their self- "They brought us things as gifts
esteem in a male-dominat- even though they have empty
ed culture and help stop pantries. Every one of the 200 peo-
the spread of AIDS," he ple there started bringing up a pota-
to, a handful of rice, a couple of eggs.
until we filled two tables that then
overflowed onto the ground," he
says.
Whitmore spent the service hold-
ing a chicken that was the donation
of a little old lady.
Because the offerings were gifts,
the group had to ask permission to
take the food to the next community
which had an orphanage of 85 kids
aged 16 months to 16 years, none of
whom had any living relatives.
"They were supported by a village
of 55 families, all who lived in mud
houses," he says.
Whitmore says the reality of
Mozambique is that those who
owned a bicycle or a house with
more. than one room or a pair of
breeding goats were considered rich.
Whitmore is currently going
through the process of having the
United Church approve his project
of funding gardens in Mozambique
as part of the church's annual Gifts
of Grace, Gifts of Hope campaign.
"This is just my effort at this point
- not a church effort. I don't want to
disrupt whatever other projects the
church has in place. But, it would
be really nice if ev(ry presbytery in
London Conference decided to fun a
garden," he says.
Because the trip was such an eye-
opener for him, Whitmore recom-
mends it for everyone.
"My bottom
line is that every
Canadian should
have to go there -
they would never
take education or
agriculture for
granted again,"
he says.
says.
With AIDS devastat-
ing Africa, Whitmore says
the average life expectancy
is around 45. Fifty per cent
of the young women aged
15-25 already have AIDS.
He amazed the chil-
dren at one school by
introducing himself with
his age of 62.
"One of the girls told
her pastor that I must
have God on my side to
live that long," laughs
Whitmore.
As a farmer;
Whitmore was also
Bruce Whitmore holds a chicken donated to a impressed by efforts to
group of United Church volunteers during a trip to educate people in
Mozambique in September. Mozambique as agrono-
an education in Mozambique was mists and the start of a number of
killed and all the farmers were dri- community gardens.
ven off of their land. One community of 10 men and 22
"They're trying really hard but women was running a co-op garden
they've never really recovered from that fed their families and produced
that war," says Whitmore. a surplus that could not be sold
He says most people in because the market was too far
Mozambique have only a Grade 3 away. They were lacking a bicycle
education even though efforts are with a cart to haul the vegetables to
being made to build schools and market.
improve education levels. Another community was growing
He was impressed by PEDRA (a vegetables and herbs, from which
word that means rock in Portugese) an agronomist was making natural
schools where girls aged 12-17 are medicines that could cure malaria,
di arrhea . and other conditions.
"Over half of the kids over there
TO OUR VALUED CLIENTS & FRIENDS
Thank you
for your continued
trust, loyalty
and friendship
in 2007.
We wish all a
happy, healthy and
prosperous 2008!
Leonard Lobb, CFP
investment Advisor
(519) 482-8887 or 1(877) 502-8887
Email: len.lobb@ipcsecurities.com
Investment
Planning Counsel"
IPC SECURITIES CORPORATION
■
If you are unemployed or on El
FR
Group
Professional Resume Development
Interview Preparation
Job Seekers & Coaching Club
Call The Centre for Employment &
Learning for more information
519-524-2515 Goderich
519-482-1700 Clinton
519-235-0471 Exeter
519-527-0305 Seaforth
519-357-4995 Wingham
Employment OnW o pogroms ere lorded
In Orn a Oe OVAIMMIPM a COMM
Seaforth Community
Hospital Foundation
Fundraising Campaign
PACS Campaig;