John Lailo, one of the pioneers of AYCT
When I visited Andiamo garage on Thursday, 20 September 2012 I found Mr. Kamanga very busy with the insurance documents. I was told that the insurances for Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust vehicles would expire on Monday, 22 September 2012. Such is life now at AYCT. Vehicles. Vehicles. Vehicles.
My visit did not end up there. I went to the Carpentry section where I met one called John Lailo. His story is both interesting and inspiring.
John Lailo was once an employee of a Mr Nanthambwe of Chiendausiku. John was the one responsible for the two cows that were pulling an oxcart that Mr Nanthambwe owned. In our chat he told me that he was the employee that Nanthambwe could trust but the fact remained, he was an employee because of the cows that the employer had.
How did he find himself at Andiamo then? Alleluya band had been formed. What we call Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust now was in its infant stage. The founders wanted to start building the structures of Andiamo but they had no cars to ferry bricks from point A to B. Why not buy cows that could pull an ox cart!
Andiamo representatives went to Mr Nanthambwe to ask if they could buy his only two cows. He agreed but with a price!
“You can’t take the cows and leave behind the shepherd. You have bought what was his job here. Take John with you.” That is how John Lailo found himself at Andiamo Youth Cooperative Trust. With the oxcart, the founders of AYCT built the first projects. Such a humble beginning.
John Lailo is the long serving employee of AYCT.
“I cannot show you anyone who came before me. I am the oldest member here,” he says.
You can read more about John Lailo in the book to be released in 2014 about AYCT.
By Patrick Bwanali