Christmas time, mistletoe and wine, children sniffing glue out of a bottle in order to dampen the pain of hunger… no wait, that’s not how the song goes, is it? The harsh reality of the festive season in a 3rd world country cannot go unnoticed by even the least observant among us. With no food, home or family the street boys were unconcerned that Sony had dropped the prices of the new slim line Playstation 3 for 25th December.
Consumerism is generally an unknown concept here and in many ways it is refreshing that the need to buy 25 selection boxes or have a Christmas tree in every room doesn’t yet exist. However, there remains something unjust about a child who is oblivious they are living in the midst of Christmas.
Our legal aid project runs a program in a juvenile home to advise the boys that face trial for usually petty offences. Some may be guilty and some not, yet hearing their stories can be heartbreaking. I met one street kid called Joseph who at 14 had already been living on the streets for five years. His plight of having both parents passed away is not uncommon. Combine this with a bottle of glue permanently attached to his mouth and Joseph’s outlook on life becomes bleak. The government views this part of society as a nuisance and offers no welfare. It is true that one must see, smell and touch before it hits home.
I am so thankful for the social background I was born into – not everyone is that lucky!
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