Getting to Know International Contacts

The Pains of Children in Poverty

I had not heard from the international contact person so I visited the web site www.childhoodpoverty.org/ . I first viewed the Clips that accompanied the website about two children in Kyrgyzstan. The clips showed both children at work and then at home after work, . The little girl is described by her coworker sister while they were rinsing our cups together as someone beyond her years with an understanding of someone beyond the age of twelve; more like twenty the coworker said.  This statement gives me an insight that children living in poverty have to assume a grown up role and understanding rather quickly.  

While this little girl was at home, her mother only asked how many canvass bags were sewn. With the child’s response her mother replied that she needed to have made more.  The mother is not insistent on the studies of the little girl as she had been, her rationale was to live for the present and not look to the future. This statement gives insight that the mother has totally set sights on survival mode as do many parents of poor families. The only thing that matters is that there is enough money to buy what is needed to get through the day.

The little boy is about 11 years old and working in a coal mine!  Coal mining is a dangerous occupation for men let alone an eleven year old boy. This fact alone gives insight that working conditions may not be favorable for workers, both men and boys. There was no lighting provided except the flashlight from the helmets. I did not see that there were any masks on to protect the lungs from inhaling the gases that coal mining produces when dug up. When the little boy went home his mother lay on the couch and could not move. My guess was that she was ill or had worked so long herself that she could not function and move her body about.

 The mother asked if head washed himself as he was covered from head to toe in soot. You could only see his eyes. I also noted that it was evening time the sub was going down. The Insight is that this child had no time to explore or play or wonder or dream; he had to prepare for work the next day.  I did note that the mother lamented that her children had to work so hard by saying “my poor children” at the end of the clip. This lets me know that poor parents do desire what is best for their children, but survival becomes the priority.