She looks engrossed, doesn't she?Which is just as well as there isn't a lot else around to keep this little girl entertained.
She's on a bridge that spans a fetid canal. Rubbish blows around her little, black-stained feet.
And the road she's on is a typical chaotic scene; should she stray a few feet, likely she'll be bowled over by one of the many motorbikes, tuk-tuks, trucks, food-carts or SUV's.
Mum's around. Problem is though, she's almost buried as she shovels filth from her cart into a larger bin.
And that's how she attempts to make her living; just one of the thousands of city-dwellers who attempt to earn a crust from collecting the city's trash.
And what are the chances the little one keeps up her reading habit?
Almost nil, I guess.
It's unlikely she'll see much of the inside of a school- the cost of uniforms, travel and books and bribes for the teacher will price that out of her reach.
Philip, you're a better person than I. I don't know if I could face these images on a daily basis, knowing that I couldn't 'fix' them. I guess by you being there, teaching, you're making a (good) dint on some sad situations.
ReplyDeleteYou get used to it, Snap. Frighteningly, very used to it.
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