Generosa Yala, seed beneficiary, Cunhinga Municipality

Generosa lives in Esanjo village, Cunhinga Municipality, Bie Province. She is a fifty year old grandmother of eleven children. She and her husband act as parents to seven year old Amandu Zacheo whose parents were killed in the war. She spoke to me about Concern’s impact on the life of her family.

Generosa was a recipient of maize and bean seed from Concern. She is pictured with her grandchildren eating maize porridge. 

"Concern have been a great support to me and my family for many years. Concern have helped us through some very tough times.

During the war Concern gave us buckets, blankets, pots, cups and plastic sheeting These were the essential items that we needed to live. When we returned home Concern gave us zinc sheeting so as we were able to build a good roof for our home.

Then in 1998 when the war was at its most extreme we fled to Kuito and lived in a displacement camp. Concern again provided us with plastic sheeting for a roof, blankets, buckets, pots and other items. Without this help I don’t know if we would have been able to get by.

Concern also helped my grand-daughter, Rosachemba who became very sick during the war. We brought her to the hospital in Kuito and they told us to take her to Concern. She was malnourished. Concern put her on the feeding programme and her condition improved so much. Afterwards she looked like a different child.  You see her here before you as a healthy girl but it is only because of Concern that she is still alive.

Now that things are looking better, Concern are working with the community to try and improve our living standards.

Concern have been in my life for many years. In 1996 Concern distributed cattle and trained farmers in how to look after them. This was a very significant development in our lives and things were looking up but in 1998 the war came back and the cattle were taken by the soldiers. During the war life got really bad again.

We are now at this point again. Concern have re-stocked the animals in this village but this time we have lasting peace. This will make a big impact in people's lives. The war is over and things are looking up and we are sure that the war is not coming back. There is a real confidence that this peace will be long standing. And Concern are still here working with us. This gives us great optimism.

There is a huge difference between living in war and living in peace. During the war we constantly had our children on our backs, ready to run. You try to plan your life but suddenly the fighting erupts and all you can think of is fleeing with your children. Survival is your only consideration. Everything else that you have is left behind, and usually it is taken by the soldiers.

During the war everybody was at risk, there was total fear.

I lost four of my children in the war. Three of them were killed by shelling or crossfire. Another died in fighting. He was a policeman and was forced by the government to fight. He was the father of Amandu Zacheo. We are now Amandu’s parents.

I had thirteen children in total, now only nine are left. I have eleven grandchildren. Three other grandchildren died of various illnesses.

Now that the war is over we can move freely and without fear. There is a strong feeling that things can now improve.

Because people are still recovering from the war many people did not have enough money to buy seed last year. Concern gave us 10kg of maize seed and 8kg of beans which meant we were able to plant.

The seed banks are another great idea. In the past people would eat or sell their seed for cash. This meant that they would have less seed to plant. By keeping the seed in the seed banks we are assured of having enough seed for the planting season. The seeds are treated as well so that rats and other pests cannot eat them.

Unfortunately this years harvest was very poor. The maize was doing well but then the rains became far too constant. Without any dryness the crop is destroyed. At least we managed to harvest some means. The beans harvest was totally destroyed. The  plants had just started to flower when the rain destroyed them.

The needs are still huge. The war may be over but we are still very poor. That is why Concern's presence is so important. Concern do not just give us things. Concern teaches us new agricultural methods and helps us to improve our thinking on agriculture and other issues. Concern is educating us on how to change our lives for the better. We can recognise how to change our lives for the better. 

During the war a lot of the land was mined or was too difficult to access. Now we have our land back and we have this support from Concern. It is a real opportunity for us to improve our lives.

In war you cannot plan anything. In peace you can plan your life.

Look at my son. He is building a house and attending school. He knows he needs a home and education. He is planning for the future.

It is the same with my family. We lost three roofs during the war. Every time we had to flee our village my roof was taken by the soldiers. Now we have a fourth roof and this is the one that's staying.

It is not a great roof and sometimes I lie awake at night wondering how I can make it better. But with the war over, now I have the opportunity to improve my life and repair my roof."

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