I recently wrote a blog about the industrious women of
Mozambique, who make a way to earn money to support their families in whatever
way they can (How Does Your Garden Grow). I see these women every day, working
in menial and tedious ways while caring for their children at the same time.
You do not see a man working alongside them. In fact, very rarely do you see
this, if at all. In his book, Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof states that
if you want to transform a country, you do it by investing in the women.
“…when women gain control over spending, less family money
is devoted to instant gratification and more for education and starting small
businesses.”
Yet I have had the privilege of knowing a few men who do put
their families before their own gratification. One of these men is Pedro. He
impresses me so very much. So much so, that I decided to write a blog about him
to sing his praises. When I asked him for permission, he agreed and added that
it would be good because it may encourage others to work as well.
Pedro has a physical handicap that has limited his mobility
on the right side of his body. He walks with a staggering limp and his arm is
of little use to him. But that does not stop him. On any given day of the week,
when you drive through the Matola Santos community, you will see Pedro going
from house to house to house with his wheel barrow collecting garbage to take
to the dump. The people who make use of his service pay him about 200 meticais,
the equivalent of $3 USD, at the end of the month.
Pedro is a bit of a “nag” in the community. He has a keen
eye for little jobs that need done. He asks the residents permission to do
these jobs. He has a hoe and will ask them if they would like him to dig a
garden. He has a machete and will ask them if he can cut their grass. If the
rain has left a gaping hole at the entrance to someone’s house, he will ask if
he can fill the dirt back in for them. If he sees someone needs their yard
raked or cleared, he offers to do this. All of these manual jobs are trying for
an able bodied person, but for Pedro, they are grueling. He works harder that
anyone I know. And while he performs useful tasks, the people don’t like being
constantly asked. But they tolerate him, and occasionally, pay him to do work.
I recently gave Pedro a ride back to his home in Matola Rio,
a good 20 minute car ride away. I wanted to chat with him and get to know him
better. He sat next to me in the passenger seat of my car…dirty and smelling of
the garbage he had hauled that morning, his clothing embarrassingly tattered,
and the soles of his shoes loosely flapping. On our way, he asked me to stop by
the market so he could buy some sweet potatoes with the change he had earned
that day. Pedro told me that people laugh at him because of the dirty work he
does. He said they make fun of him for working for so little money and ask him
why he does this. He tells them that he can then buy a bag of rice or a bag of
beans, or in this case, a few sweet potatoes…and then, he can eat. Those who
make fun of him are not able to make this same claim.
Traveling about on my typical day, I see many capable men
sitting around doing nothing. Nothing but waiting for opportunity to come knocking
on their door. I admire Pedro. He doesn’t sit and wait, he goes out and knocks
on doors and finds opportunity. Others may look down on him because he does the
work no one else wants to do. I believe they need to adjust their outlook and
see him for the industrious hero that he is. And then, they need to go knock on
some doors themselves!
So here’s to you, Pedro! Bom trabalho!!! Continue, meu
amigo!!!
