Caring For Those That Serve

Hello,

Prayer points at the top, as requested, but do read on otherwise they won't make a lot of sense.

PRAYER POINTS:

- Please pray for radical witnessing as we demonstrate a better way of managing 'workers'

- Give thanks for the wonderful workforce that supports us out here

- Please pray for provision for uniforms and improved living conditions

With out a doubt, one of the great blessings of living in Burundi are the Burundians who work in homes and businesses...doing the jobs that keep everything working in an environment where simple tasks can be complicated and very time consuming.

In most homes in Bujumbura it is normal to employ a number of people to cook, clean, guard etc... At our house we have a number of people working shifts and at the school we employ around 30 'workers'. The workers allow us to focus on our jobs (small amounts of shopping can take over 1 hour, all washing has to be done by hand, queuing for petrol during a shortage can take 4+) and provide much needed employment in a country where so many are unemployed. Our workers earn, roughly, the same as a state-employed teacher or half the salary of a reasonable office job...but less than the cost of fuelling the car.

However it is common to hear people complaining about their workers, suggesting that they make life harder...not easier. There are always employees that are a challenge...but, as a rule, if you treat those that work for you with respect and manage them properly...they will always go the extra mile for you.

Sadly, workers are often referred to here as the 'little people'...indeed it is so ingrained that even they will refer to themselves like this. More often than not, they are treated very badly. Yet they are men and women we rely on. Today Claude is not at work because his wife is sick...and thrown our day into chaos! As they say...'you don't know what you've got until it's gone'.

So we try and set a new precedent. At home we feed our workers well, smile and say 'Hello', pay hospital bills for them and their families (a relatively small cost for us...everything for them), give them national holidays off and try and appreciate the blessing that they are. And they are legends! Ciza has said that I am the best boss he has ever met...but I don't even speak his language...all I do is say 'Hello'. How crazy is it that saying 'Hello' can rank you as a great employer?!

This term saw the beginning of important work that I must do in the school to set a new standard for how workers are treated. To show that having them is a privilege...not a right. And to show that better conditions might cost in the short term, but pay off greatly in the long term.

Before half-term I finished my meetings with the school's workers. Simple one hour meetings, under a tree, showing some appreciation, discussing changes and listening to issues....then praying together...we are all equal in God's eyes.

I've committed to standardising working hours and duties, providing pension arrangements and improving meals.

We also need to find funds to improve living conditions for those who live on site and also provide proper working clothes and uniforms for them too. IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT...PLEASE LET ME KNOW (jez.wisdom@gmail.com)...I feel that this is something that should be addressed quicker than the school can manage...we continue to suffer financially from last year.

Just before half-term there was a national holiday and so we invited the school's workers to a lunch....cooked and served by the teachers. A radical departure from the normin Burundi, but something we felt was very appropriate. Though the workers seemed unconvinced that it would actually happen without their help!

Lunch was a little late...be an amazing feast was prepared and there was a great time of fellowship and a great opportunity serve. After lunch one of our Primary School teachers decided that 'these men cannot turn up, eat and leave...they must dance!'...and so they did! And so did we! Crazy, weird...but a great leveller. I still hear my night guard watching the footage on his phone with his friends in the evening.

We don't want to create an unaffordable situation or make promises that can't be kept...most of what we will change is either cheap or a cultural change...but I want people to hear that the workers at this Christian school are treated the best...but work the best.

This may not be the main reason we came here...but we feel God is giving us a great opportunity to witness to our employees and other employers.

Please continue to pray for us.

God Bless,

Jez