I’ve been working in India, both in urban and rural areas, for about 2 months now. I love it. It is interesting, rewarding, exciting, and colorful. Documenting the women’s groups and their community work is inspiring.
However, it’s not all success stories and fun times (I’ve learned traditional dances…sort of, attended a wedding, and even taken a ride on a large, elderly camel). Poverty is rampant in India and the gap between rich and poor continues to grow. What’s even worse, is the large number of children included in the demographic.
It manifests itself in various ways. From the city-dwelling, homeless child to the baby in the most rural of villages who is clearly malnourished. Do you give the child tugging at your sleeve money? Or will it only end up hurting him or her? How do you accept the generous tea and biscuits from the village children who clearly aren’t eating enough themselves?
Questions I’m sure many who work in similar levels of poverty must ask themselves day in and day out. Nothing is completely one sided, and while yes it is sad and something not to be ignored, seeing how kids can always find a way to just be kids is heart-warming. They’re always ready to smile for a photo and giggle as they see how pretty (or handsome, excuse me gentlemen) they look on camera.
I haven’t figured out the best way to handle it, but I know making a kid smile can’t hurt.
A little reminder of how beautiful our earth is….Quilotoa Crater Lake, Ecuador
