Something happened yesterday that gave me food for thought.
Like every other day, I took out the garbage, just around the time the truck usually comes by, to prevent dogs and cats from tearing up the bag, as they had been doing for the past few weeks -or so I thought. Not five minutes had gone by when my daughter called me and said: "Mom, there are people going through the garbage bag, what should I do?"
I came out and asked them, “please don't do that.” They promised they wouldn't tear the bag, they wouldn't make a mess, to which I repeated my request and asked them to wait for me while I brought them some good food, "but please, don't eat that, it's not good for you", I said. My heart sank.
Don't get me wrong, I am not oblivious to the fact that the world is a mess, people go to bed hungry every day, even in my community (a small town in Argentina). Through my community work, I've learned that young children from underprivileged neighborhoods of my city go to what they call "the mall" - the garbage dump - and that many of them don't get a good meal during the weekend because they only get one at school.
For some reason, what happened on my doorstep hit me hard. Maybe it was because I hadn't seen it in my community until now, or maybe it was the realization that it had been going on for weeks, maybe longer, without me noticing.
My land is a beautiful land, the soil is generous, and as you walk down the city streets, sometimes oranges hit your head. Yes, food literally grows on the sidewalks, you can reap pumpkins you didn't sow out of a patch or a flowerbed. I've seen tomato plants climbing up a tree on the sidewalk. You get the idea. And all of this gets you thinking.
I wouldn't dare go into the complexities of this reality, but I am an advocate of education as a key factor for change. That's why I'm delighted to be translating for the IRC, an organization that, among other things, empowers poor communities by providing training and support to form microfinance associations and create a safety net for their members.
And like the vegetables growing spontaneously on the streets of my beloved city, and in this beautiful community at PROZ PRO BONO, and all the amazing organizations I am getting to know thanks to this volunteering opportunity, I see a ray of hope for humanity.
Thank you for sharing. The title of your piece captures the essence perfectly. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that the rich are becoming richer, and the greedy prefer to let ignorance persist. While an immediate solution seems elusive, some of us strive to support charities, and let's hope that educational institutions will continue to be, or become, the most impartial and generous advocates for children and those with limited means.
I remember those kids in Latakia, they used to come collect recyclable things like cardboard packs, glass shreds and bottles, plastics, cans too. The sad part that they were mostly underage, and this labor income was not directly given to them.
They were "protected" by an adult who puts them to task.
Great piece of writing, really got me thinking.