环球英语 — 612：Bulembu: Rebuilding a Community
Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid,
Voice 2
And I'm Steve Myersco. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
‘What will happen to this lovely little country?
Voice 1
A man named Stephen Lewis asked this question. He worked for the United Nations. He was responsible for reporting on the state of HIV/AIDS in Africa. In his report he talked about one particular country - Swaziland. Mr Lewis continued,
Voice 3
‘Swaziland now holds the unwanted record of having the highest HIV rate in the world. HIV/AIDS has reached into the heart of Swaziland and is tearing it to pieces. And there is one other problem that you cannot escape from in Swaziland. This problem comes from the virus - from the large number of infected women. It is the orphans. Children with no parents are everywhere. I have never seen anything like it.'
Voice 2
Swaziland is a country which suffers greatly from HIV and AIDS. In today's Spotlight we look at a project in this southern African country that is trying to help. We spoke to a member of a group trying to improve the lives of many people in Swaziland. These people are struggling with poverty and poor health.
Voice 1
Bulembu is a small town in Swaziland. Bulembu was built around a mine. Many of the ten thousand people who lived in the town worked in the mine. However, in 2001 the mine closed. Suddenly people living in the town had no way of getting money. So they moved to other towns to find work.
Voice 2
In a few years, the population dropped to zero. The houses and the streets were all empty. Everybody had left. This was because there were no longer any jobs in the town.
Voice 1
But today, Bulembu is the centre of a new project in Swaziland. People are returning to the town. Now, about two thousand people live there. They have jobs. And children affected by HIV/AIDS are receiving care.
Voice 2
Bulembu is coming back to life thanks to an organisation called Bulembu International. A small group of businessmen started this organisation. One of these men was James Woller. Like the other members of the group he is a Christian. He explains why they wanted to help people in Swaziland.
Voice 4
‘Swaziland has the highest AIDS rate in the world. It is now over 38 percent. And it is the only developing country in the world that is experiencing negative population growth. Recently the population was about 1.1 million. Now it is below 950 thousand. So if that continues over the next fifty years, it is very possible that the Swazi people will no longer exist. Even the United Nations has stated this. The reason we are getting involved is to try and make a difference to the future of Swaziland. We want to bring hope back. This is part of the Christian message. We believe this is at the centre of the Christian message - Jesus Christ brings hope.'
Voice 1
Bulembu International works in two different ways in the community. Firstly it creates jobs. Secondly it provides care and education to adults and children affected by AIDS. The organisation has helped to create about 600 jobs in the town. These jobs are in four main businesses. One business sells honey. The Bulembu Honey business owns over a thousand bee hives. Workers collect the sweet honey stored in them and sell it. Another business bottles water from the area to sell. Another business grows trees and sells the wood. Bulembu has also built holiday homes where people can stay.
Voice 2
The money from the businesses helps to pay for development projects in the town. These include a medical centre where people can receive help. The centre runs a special programme for people with HIV and AIDS. The town also has a school that has about 185. Another project is a centre that cares for orphans. This provides care for about 200 children.
Voice 1
The members of Bulembu International know that any changes in Swaziland may be slow. The effects of HIV and AIDS have been very severe. But they hope that the children growing up in Bulembu may be the people who help to change Swaziland. James Woller says the team members in the Bulembu projects have high hopes for these children,
Voice 4
‘These children now have greater chances and they have a quality education. We believe that they will make an amazing difference to their country. This is because they love their country and they love being Swazi. They will be part of the government, or start businesses, or help other people in need in Swaziland. I believe that they will have a big effect on the country.'
Voice 2
One big problem that the Bulembu workers hope to fix soon is the old mine. Much of the old mine still remains, even though it is not used. The area of the mine contains large amounts of waste. Experts need to clear this waste before the area can be developed. James Woller says this is an important job.
Voice 4
‘The areas of waste are very clear to see. And it is more than just not looking good. They make people remember the past. We are really trying to find organisations to help us clear the land and plant new trees and grass. That way we can take away that memory of the past.'
Voice 1
The Bulembu project was started in 2006. Currently the town still depends on people who give money to the town. But one day Bulembu International hopes that the town will not need this help from other people. James Woller says,
Voice 4
‘Our real goal is that the community of Bulembu will be able to survive by itself. We have set a goal for 2020. By that year we hope the community will no longer need money from other countries to support it. At that point we hope the community will have it own leaders and management. They will take the dreams for this community forward.'
Voice 2
So, what will happen to the lovely little country of Swaziland? Well hope for the country is growing in Bulembu. The town has showed that a community can come back to life. The next question will be if this community can bring new life to their country. The children of Bulembu may just be the people who answer that question.
