Bibi (which means ‘grandmother’ in Swahili) begins the conversation with the ‘emotional thermometer’ – a therapeutic approach used by our project workers to encourage families to express their feelings using a traffic light system. It’s a simple way to break the ice and gauge the emotional state of the caregivers and children we work with.
We’re sat beneath a tree in Bibi’s vegetable garden, taking refuge from the midday sun. A few metres away is a constant stream of cars, motorcycles and bajajis speeding to and from the ferry port. The surrounding patchwork of greens offers a soothing respite from the bustle of the city.
Jenny, a project worker who has been supporting the family for 10 months, tells Bibi there are two reasons for the visit – firstly, to find out how her grandchildren are doing, and secondly, to see how her vegetable growing business is progressing.
“I’m very happy you’re here and you have come to see my work,” Bibi says, gesturing towards the garden behind her. “This is my employment and I’m very grateful.” She goes on to say that although she has worked in gardens before, this is the first time she’s had her own plot to grow vegetables.
Bibi lives with her three grandchildren, including 14-year-old Adin, who came to the attention of Railway Children’s outreach workers last year after spending two years on the streets. Adin and his siblings previously lived with their parents, but the pressures of poverty caused the family to breakdown. The father moved away, and the mother remarried. The children were sent to live with Bibi, their grandmother, who struggled to support them with the little money she had. It was then that Adin ran away to the streets.
When Railway Children reunified Adin with his family, they were overjoyed to see him again. “I didn’t know if he was still alive,” says Bibi. “When he returned it was as if he had some magic! He is helping at home and with my work in the garden.”
When Jenny and government social welfare officers were preparing for Adin to be reunified, it was decided the best place for him to live permanently was with his grandmother and siblings, although he remains in touch with both parents.
To help Bibi provide a stable home for her grandchildren, Railway Children supported the family with an agricultural grant and business training so she could start growing and selling vegetables.
Almost a year later, their life has transformed, and the garden is thriving. “Over there are sweet potatoes, and over here is spinach and lentils – this year’s harvest was good,” Bibi says proudly, pointing towards different beds of sprouting leaves.
“My dream is to get an even bigger plot of land that I own, so I can provide more for my grandchildren.”
As Bibi is speaking, Adin emerges with a big smile on his face. He joins us under the shade of the tree, and with encouragement from Jenny, introduces himself using the emotional thermometer: “My name is Adin. I’m green and I’m feeling good.”
Bibi gently scolds Adin for looking down while he speaks, but her love and pride for him is clear. “Although he does not want to go to school like his siblings, Adin is motivated and is looking forward to the future. He says when he is successful, he will support me and his parents too,” Bibi tells us.
For children like Adin who have spent a long time on the streets, re-enrolment into school can be a challenge. The cost of equipment and school uniforms is an obstacle for low-income families, and the children often struggle to catch up with their classmates and eventually drop out.
When Jenny asks what Adin has been doing this morning, he says he’s been to the ferry port: “I saw a car that had sunk in the water, and I wanted to fix it. I am excited to learn how.”
Life seems hopeful for Bibi and Adin, but it wasn’t always this way.
Before receiving the agricultural grant, Bibi was barely earning enough to support herself, let alone three grandchildren. She was doing manual labour for very little money and couldn’t afford everyday essentials like flour to make ugali (an everyday Tanzanian meal, a bit like porridge) or provide school materials for the children. She would often have to leave her accommodation because she couldn’t afford to pay the rent. On one occasion, heavy rain caused the mud hut she was living in to collapse, and she injured her back.
“My back still hurts from the accident when I work too long in the garden,” Bibi says, “but I’m happy now that I can afford my rent and have my own vegetables, so I don’t have to rely on others. I can buy more flour to make ugali and sometimes, I trade vegetables for fish at the market, so my grandchildren have more variety in their diet.”
As well as his interest in mechanics, Adin has a particular skill for budgeting. Bibi tells us how he helps her to save money every month, so they have enough to pay the rent for the garden and their home.
She recalls that when he was living on the streets, Adin buried money underground to keep safe so that when he had saved enough, he could take it home to his family.
“He is always thinking about how he can help us,” Bibi says. “When I received the grant to start my business, I took Adin, his brother and his sister with me to collect it because I wanted them to be involved and learn about money.”
Jenny congratulates Bibi on the progress she has made with Adin and her other grandchildren. “You are very hardworking, and many others wouldn’t have done the same,” Jenny says.
“Since I started working with you, I saw willingness and motivation to help your grandchildren and nurture their skills, and this is why you are doing so well. It’s why Adin is so happy to be at home with you. You are a superwoman.”
After Bibi takes us on a tour around the garden, Jenny does a final check-in with the emotional thermometer. “I’m green, green, green!” Bibi says joyfully, followed by Adin: “I’m feeling green too!”
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