One Girl Carri Water 1 & 2 #Featured

Chapter 9

Funding for the training centre came the following month just as Dr. Mwanza had said. Amina was now in the old warehouse at the refugee camp. The place was a flurry of activity as even the refugees pitched in to help clean and repair the warehouse for a day's wage. It did not take long for Amina to find Barbara who led her to the other girls. Barbara had been working in the streets close to the refugee camp and once Amina asked about a girl with Barbara's description the soldiers had been more than happy to direct her to Barbara's usual spot. They spent a few days cleaning the lodge and rendering it habitable again. Most of the girls moved back into the lodge but it was not easy for them to kick old habits. Amina hired Nurse Ruth as the girls' counsellor so as to help those that needed treatment for drug addiction. The project was also helping Amina tremendously with her addiction because it kept her busy. If she wasn't on site at the warehouse she was busy recruiting trainers from the nearby villages with Barbara or ordering equipment on-line. Amina made sure Barbara was with her every step of the way for she planned to leave her in charge of setting up some of the other Training Centres because she couldn't do it all in 6 months.

Looking around her Amina was filled with excitement. What had just been an idea was finally turning into reality. Leading by example Amina dipped her paint brush in a bucket of paint and joined in the work.
The equipment arrived two weeks later and once it was unloaded the whole community helped set it up. Another week later and Training Centre was ready to be officially opened. There was still plenty of work to be done but for now it would do. The sooner the girls were trained the sooner they could start making their own money.
"Ahlan! Inti kwayesa" Amina said to the small crowd of people standing in front of the entrance to the Training Centre. "I thank you all for the work you put into this project. This place we shall name "Ma'a Salama" to venerate our collective decision to say goodbye to everything that is not decent, goodbye to hopelessness and most importantly, goodbye to low self-esteem. This is not only for my sisters but for the community at large because the aim of this centre is to get young girls off the streets. I'm entrusting the care of this training centre to you all and I hope it betters the lives of many girls. Ma'a Salama Vocational Training Centre is officially open." Amina cut the ribbon across the entrance and everyone cheered and ululated shouting "Miya! Miya!! (Excellent! Excellent!!)"

Amina was hugged and congratulated by her father, Nurse Ruth and Barbara before going into the centre. After that came a celebratory lunch for everyone. All in all it was a wonderful and successful day. It was only the beginning, she didn't know how but one way or the other Amina would ensure that her training centres spread all over Africa and not just in Sudan. Not wasting anytime at all, that night Amina invited Barbara over to the military base and the two them discussed the best locations in Sudan for the other centres. Amina now only had four months left before leaving for Zambia and she planned to do as much as possible before then.
Sitting in the conference room in front of her new laptop Amina shared all of her contacts for equipment with Barbara.
"This company is very good. They delivered all the sewing machines on time and an in perfect shape" said Amina
"Mmm-mm!! The trainers are all saying what good quality machines you purchased" said Barbara.
"And you mustn't forget about insurance, it's----" Amina was cut off by the sound of car horns and commotion coming from outside. Barbara quickly got up and checked what was happening from the window. When she turned back to face Amina she had an expression of fear on her face.

"Barbara, what is it?" asked Amina
"There are government military Hummers outside" said Barbara, much to Amina's horror just then Amina's father burst into the room.
"What's going on?" asked Amina in fear
"They are here to search the place. Someone must have tipped them off on your whereabouts" said Alhaji breathlessly
"What do we do?" asked Amina
"You need to hide" said Alhaji "both of you come with me there's a secret passage in my office. Hurry we have no time to waste"
Amina grabbed her laptop and followed her father to his office which was just a few doors away from the conference room.
"Quickly help me move this" said Alhaji pointing towards his office table. The three of them moved the table aside and then Alhaji removed the rug covering the floor to reveal a trap door. He opened the door and stairs came into view. "Here take this" Alhaji said handing Amina a two way radio "This tunnel will lead you to the train station but for now wait here. If I don't communicate in two hours start walking until you reach the station"
"Be careful, Baba" said Amina before her and Barbara descended the stairs.
Just as Alhaji managed to return the table to its usual place a bang came on his door.
"Open up Commander Fulani!" someone demanded
Alhaji walked towards the door and opened it. Three men dressed in National Military garb walked in. "Are you the one in charge here?" asked one of them who was most likely the leader
"Yes, how can I help you gentlemen?" asked Alhaji
"We are here to search your offices" said the man
"Go ahead I have nothing to hide" said Alhaji calmly although his heart was racing with fear for his daughter. The soldiers looked around the room until they were satisfied.
"I think we're done here" said the one Alhaji assumed to be the leader
Alhaji nodded and tried not to sigh in relief.
"Wait sir, this table looks like it's been recently moved" said one of the other men. Alhaji remained stationary determined not to give himself away by acting guilty.
"Lift it" said the leader
The other two lifted the table and the leader examined the carpet underneath it. Sweat dripped down the side of Alhaji's face and he swallowed hard.
"It's nothing. Let's go" said the leader.
Some more soldiers gathered outside of Alhaji's office as the leader walked out.
"We've searched everywhere Sir, there's no sign of the girl" reported one of them.
"Let's go. There's another camp in the village" said the leader.

As soon as the last government Hummer pulled out from the Base compound Alhaji rushed back to his office. With the help of his second in command he moved the table and opened the trap door.
"Amina!" called Alhaji "You can come out now"
Amina had never been so glad to hear someone call out her name. It was so dark and scary in the passage. At one point they could even hear the footsteps of people walking in the office above them. She had held hands with Barbara and the two prayed silent prayers. Amina walked up the stairs followed by Barbara.
"What happened, Baba?" asked Amina
"It was a close call, they nearly found the trap door" explained Alhaji "We can't stay here anymore it's not safe. The soldiers have gone to the refugee camp and I'm sure they'll question the people. Most of them are loyal to us anyway, they won't say anything but we can't take the risk"
"What do you suggest we do?" asked Amina
"We need to leave for Zambia tonight" said Alhaji
"But Baba" begun Amina
"I know you haven't completed your work with your centres yet but we can't risk your safety or that of the people around you. If you are found anyone helping you will surely be arrested or worse executed" reasoned Alhaji
"It seems I have no choice" said Amina
"Go and pack a small bag while I make transport arrangements. Only take what you need" instructed Alhaji.
Amina rushed to her room with Barbara by her side. "Will I ever see you again?" asked Barbara as she helped Amina pack
"Yes, of course you will sister. I'm leaving you in charge of completing the remaining centres. I'll find a way to keep in touch" said Amina before handing her laptop to Barbara "This has all the information you need. Keep it well for me until we meet again"
"I'll miss you terribly" said Barbara
"I'll miss you too" said Amina as she hugged her sister.
"I wish you all the best Amina" said Barbara
"Thank you, Barbara" said Amina.
Alhaji and his daughter walked to the train station using the tunnels under the military base disguised as village dwellers. Once at the station they would board a train to Congo where they would be met by another rebel group that would provide them with passage into Zambia.
"But Baba, truth be told I was so scared back there in the tunnel whilst the soldiers ransacked your office" admitted Amina as they approached the end of the tunnel. She could hear the noise of moving trains and people chatting coming from the station.
"Please dear!! Don't remind me of that" said her father "You don't want to imagine how many times my heart failed while they lifted that table. Anyway, Allah's name be praised you weren't caught."
"I really hope we make it to Zambia without any trouble" said Amina
"We will, I'll make sure of it" he said
"I'm glad you came to look for me or else I would have never left that brothel alive" said Amina "Thank you, Baba"
Alhaji smiled and his heart warmed "Don't thank me my dear it's my job as your father to take care of you" he said and then took Amina's hand in his.

Amina and her father boarded their train and it took them to the Town of Kisangani in the DRC where they were received by Commander Cecile Kidiaba leader of the DRC rebel peace keepers. She was very nice to them and took them back to her camp where they spent the night. The following morning one of Commander Kidiaba's men drove them to the town of Kananga. It was a long and tiring journey and to everyone's relief it was also uneventful. Once at Kananga they got a train to Lumbashi and there they met more Congolese peace keepers. The troops were on their way to Zambia to deliver a container full of food for refugee camps. They smuggled Amina and her father across the heavily guarded Kasumbalesa Border post in the back of the container. Soon as they entered Zambia and where away from the boarder they switched vehicles and got on to another UN truck that transported them to Ndola.