Jobs and Roles in Home and Community
Primary 4 · English
Jobs and Roles in Home and Community
Lesson 3 of 5
45 min
On the last Saturday of the month, Mutesi's parents take their hoes and go out early. Their neighbours are already there. Together, they clean the drains along the road. By eleven o'clock the work is done!
Today you will read a story about a village that solved its problems by working together. Then you will learn how you can help in your community.
Listen to the story (audio, read by Darshan Soni), or open the Storybooks Rwanda page to read it in Kinyarwanda and French too.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap. We waited for food donated by others. We locked our houses early because of thieves. Many children dropped out of school. Young girls worked as maids in other villages. Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people's farms.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences. People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting. People gathered under a big tree and listened.
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Name three problems the village had.
Possible answers: one tap for everyone, not enough food, thieves, children dropping out of school, rubbish and broken glass.
What happened that made the father call a meeting?
The tap dried up and the containers were empty.
How did Juma offer to help?
He said, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Juma was only eight years old. What does this show you?
Possible answer: children can help their community too.
In Rwanda, on the last Saturday of every month, adults in every village do umuganda. This means community work. People clean roads and drains, plant trees, build classrooms and repair houses for neighbours who need help. After the work, they often meet, like the people in the story, to talk about their village's problems and plans.
In the story, people offer help with can:
You can offer help in the same way: I can pick up litter. We can water the trees. Or ask: Can I help you?
community (the people who live in one place), meeting, solve a problem, volunteer (a person who offers to help for free), together.
Speak: Hold a class meeting, like the villagers under the tree. One pupil names a problem at school, such as litter or a dirty toilet. Each of the others offers help: “I can …”
Write three ways you can help your community, each starting with I can … Then write one sentence about umuganda in your village.
Tip
Offer with CAN: “I can help!” “Can I help you?”
Many hands make light work: a big job is easy when everyone helps.
Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.
What did the people in the story shout with one voice?
Answer: “We must change our lives.”
Complete Juma's offer: I ___ help with cleaning up.
Answer: can
When does umuganda happen in Rwanda?
Answer: On the last Saturday of every month.
Ask a question to offer help to a neighbour carrying water.
Answer: Can I help you?
Write one way you can help your community.
Answer: Example: I can pick up litter around the market.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
In Rwanda, umuganda happens on the first Monday of every month.
