On another occasion we were visiting a rural community that is hoping to join our family of schools but the teachers were striking because they were not being paid by the community. As we sat to visit, we were joined by dozens of people all who sat in an listened to the conversation. Through some calm and at times humorous conversation, the issue was resolved. The mothers were particularly pleased that their children were to be back at school the next day.
When food is served, especially in these rural communities, it is often served on a communal platter. If the meal if groundnut soup with fish, served over rice, you become very conscious of sharing the best of the fish. It seems to move around the platter till it finds a home. Maybe a good metaphor for how we could live together more interdependently.