Happy Labour Day

Happy Labour Day!

"Ora et Labora", ie "Pray and Work", said St Benedict. This is a wonderful life motto: a life with prayer and work. 

I started working very early in my life. I can not only pretend but state that I know what work is. I have performed all kinds of works from fetching water, cutting plantation field, planting paspalum to working in a textile factory. I know the value of work be it manual or intellectual. Beside my parents, there is somebody whose name I do not want to mention here, who taught me to work efficiently. I know the value of work. It is life. Everyday when I wake up, I benefit of the work of many millions to be alive,  have food and shelter, feed my dear ones, help others, etc. All this because work has been at the heart of human activities for living and survival from generation to generation. 

People have organised work in many ways. As owners, patrons or business practitioners, as slaves or exploited servants, work has even been the decisive point in terms of class division, political parties, or distribution of wealth. Today is therefore a very controversial day across the world. Celebration of St Joseph the artisan or Jeanne d'Arc, everybody has his agenda. Celebration of Labour Party from Russia to the anonymous little island of Bulawayo where work is forced. All forms of works are performed across the world. 

I therefore take this opportunity to denounce all forms of present slavery, exploitation of women and child in various traffics and trades, oppression of poor by rich, abuse of weak by powerful. There is on this earth space for everyone to live in peace, dignity and love. Work grants value and honour to man. The day before my birthday I was surprised to hear from my twin kids: "Daddy we made breakfast for you: Jr made coffee and Chrys made the omelette. A jam and a juice are also ready for you." That is something I never did for my father because we lived in other circumstances. My duty was to hide cola nuts for daddy, kill hens or later goats. To be sent to buy beer or something useful for the house. Is that work? Not really, but it gave me a sense of responsibility, which is a key in life, a sense of dedication and caring for the others. 

In 1986-87 I was appointed as director of CERCA (Centre d'étude et de recherche pour la construction adaptée), Kenge. The initiative did not last long because, I guess, of lack of funding. I organized the curriculum and taught a course of "Droit du Travail". I mention this because I learnt the content of the course whereas I was teaching it. I tried my best bearing in mind that a better qualified colleague could do a better job. On the other hand, we could not wait for this "special" teacher. The same I built concrete for my house because there was no one to do so. Specialists are not necessarily needed for any job. Nobody is born a mason or carpenter. One learns, sometimes the hard way, sometimes by trial and error. Before that I taught courses for which I never learnt the pedagogy. I even realize that I just practice teaching without being trained to teach. Not really true. I have participated in many workshops aiming at improving teaching, assessing and learning methods. For a teacher as I am, my stakeholder is the student, the learner who can speak to my integrity, standard and competence. 

I value the honest job. I admire all kind of jobs done excellently. I have seen rich people whose monthly salaries do not reflect their properties, belongings and way of life. Please do not ask them how they acquire the wealth. I hate mediocrity. I admire all who perform their job beyond duties, with an aspiration for excellence. Respect work, any kind of work nobly performed for the improvement of humanity.

Happy Labour Day to all my readers!