Ive had a lot of time to think today. I was reading the El Salvador daily newspaper this morning with my coffee and came across an article about a bunch of youth who had just been arrested for their involvement in an homicide. All of the kids in the picture looked so young ... like the kids Ive been visiting all week.
Its crazy to me that the kids we get to work with are so incredibly undesireable. In many cases they are the ones who give this country a bad reputation for violence. They fill the newspapers with stories of murder, burglary, deceit ... etc. On one hand they do this on their own volition --- but can we really believe that? All of these kids come from intensely poor families. They practically grow up on the streets. Many of them have young parents ... who probably were never taught how to be a mom or dad. Im not saying these kids arent responsible for the evil things theyve done ... but can we expect much more from them?
Other people are waiting for the internet so Ill wrap this up...
Society expects nothing but bad things from these kids and thus assign them little or no value. So when another kid is arrested and locked up, or another girl is kicked out for getting pregnant its no big deal. It creates a cycle. This is why I am so excited about Traveling Stories ... books wont solve anything immidiately ... and they may not make a huge different, but I believe that books have the power to inspire and transform minds ... to break this sad cycle. Books can teach kids ideas and ways to live that they arent seeing from the people around them.
If you have any books ... Spanish or English... please save them for Traveling Stories!!! Well find a way to put them into good hands!
Emily you are a great voice to make a change in the world. I hope you know how truly special you are.
ReplyDeleteEm ~ What you are doing will surely make a difference in the lives of these children.
ReplyDeleteYou are fabulous!
We miss you!
~ Sandy
You are so right. I think the same things happens (maybe on a smaller scale) in some underdeveloped areas here in the united state...like inner city schools or in the projects....Politicians call it the revolving door. Sad thing is they recognize it enough to label it but not enough to make a difference. I think you are onto something....books can help make a difference and educate children.
ReplyDelete