In the are of Bele Mache, we live with a strong sense of community. When one of us faces you can see that we all come together to see what we can do to help each other.

Many in our village earn a living through farming, primarily planting beans and corn. Others own motorcycles, offering taxi services to transport people to nearby areas. There are also teachers in the local schools, helping educate the children.

We have a leader in the village who was elected to represent us, helping to coordinate efforts and make decisions for the community. A large government school serves the area, offering education up to high school, making it an important place for many children. This development is relatively new—what was once a land of brush and thorn bushes has now been transformed, with the government building a public market and the high school. This has encouraged growth, and more people are starting to build homes here.

Healthcare is available through two clinics. The RHFH clinic is open 24/7 and serves the majority of the population. There’s also a government clinic, but it often faces staffing challenges and isn’t consistently open. Most women give birth at home with the help of birth attendants, and only in cases of complications do they seek out hospitals, though finding one open can be difficult. When someone passes away, most are buried within 24 hours, with a few taken to the morgue.

The homes in Bele Mache vary. Closer to the road and in town, most houses are made from cinder blocks, topped with tin or cement roofs. Farther out, homes are often built from sticks, rocks, and clay.

Our area has four schools, and one of them provides education up to the final grade level of school. The children of Bele Mache love to play. The boys enjoy soccer, marbles, and tag, and riding bikes. While the girls spend their time jumping rope and making swings from ropes and rags, hanging them from trees.

Although there are no churches directly in Bele Mache, we are close to Nazarene, Church of God, and Adventist churches. In better times, we used to organize activities at these churches or make trips to the beach. But now, with the country’s situation worsening, we mostly stay home. Playing dominos and listening to the news on the radio has become our main source of entertainment.

Fortunately, Bele Mache sits high enough that we are safe from flooding. For our favorite meals—we enjoy boiled bananas, corn, rice, millet, goat, chicken, and eggs.