The first time I walked through the slums and saw abject
poverty was in 2007 in India. In January 2009, I saw it again in the Dominican
Republic, then Haiti, Cambodia, Africa, and month after month. Each time I walk
through the rat-infested, trash-filled, beautiful alleyways, something new strikes
me. This time it was hunger. And I’ve come to realize that I am NOT ok with it.
This month I’ve gotten to do feedings in different slums and
towns in Manila and Malaybalay. Although the people and circumstances are
different at each one, they are all plagued with the reality that they don’t
have enough food.
I went to a relocation camp for victims of the typhoon that
hit a year ago. After their homes were destroyed in the floods, the government
relocated 5,000 people to a camp way outside of the city, where they get little
food rations and cannot find work. Most children don’t go to school because
they’re overcrowded and there is not enough food. This is NOT ok.
I went to a hospital where the patients don’t get fed and
are malnourished and hungry. This is NOT ok.
I droved into the slums of Malaybalay and picked up hundreds
of children to bring them to our camp where they get one meal where they can
eat as much as they want. I watched them shovel down food not knowing when they
might eat again. This is NOT ok.
At each one, as we set the tubs of food on a table and
masses of children flocked to us with little cups and spoons, I couldn’t help but think “this is so preventable.”
It’s been amazing to watch the reactions of my squad mates
as we walk through this together. For most of them this is their first time
ever being in a slum area. Watching their world-views expand, as injustices
rise up has brought a newness to me. It’s brought me back to my first time
seeing it and the mix of emotions that came with it. It was a righteous anger,
unbelief, and compassion that welled up inside of me when the children grabbed
my hand and looked at me with their huge, innocent eyes. In all honestly
though, it would be safe to say that in a way, I’ve been desensitized to this
because of the amount I’ve seen it. But watching my squads’ eyes opened has
made me realize that I am NOT ok with hunger. I am not ok with children dying
from malnourishment and preventable illnesses. And I am NOT ok with them not
knowing where their next meal is coming from.
I realize that I am an idealist and it may not be as easy to
prevent hunger as I think. But it still doesn’t change the fact that this is
NOT ok with me.
*Photos compliments of my squad mate Alecia Docherty.
