Shaken by Poverty in Africa

This Article was written by SHELI C. on Feb 25, 2004:

Over Christmas vacation I visited my family in South Africa, and was faced with true poverty for the first real time in my life. Apartheid was only being banned a mere ten years ago, and the immense differences between the social classes and life styles of the whites and blacks continue to persist in most areas of the country. While the majority of the white population lives in enormous houses with swimming pools and patios, most of the black homes are erected of scrap pieces of metal and wood, housing approximately eight people per shack. A third of South Africans carry the virus HIV, and almost all the victims are black.

Poverty was everywhere—Deven in the richest of the neighborhoods. We were constantly approached by beggars, and learned very quickly that giving to everyone would result in an empty wallet. I soon learned how to say no, and though it left me feeling quite guilty, I reminded myself that the few cents I was giving couldn't possibly be of much help to anyone. Though the scene was depressing, the feeling that it was out of my hands presided, and the realization that there was nothing I could do to help took hold of me.

While walking through a wealthy vacation town one day, my mother and I were approached by a young black boy carrying a bag of corn in each hand, a weight he struggled to lift. Putting them down, he cupped his hands, made a bowing motion towards us, and asked that we buy his corn for twenty rands a bag. His plea seemed urgent, and it was as if he was begging instead of selling. 20 rands are equivalent to approximately three dollars. Of course, we had no need for such a huge bag of corn, so we said no as we were now used to doing, and kept on walking.

From a fast food restaurant where my brother was buying a hot dog at nearly the same price, I watched the boy. He was approaching one person after another, all white, some of whom shook their heads politely; others merely waving him off like a fly. I thought of my 11-year-old brother who must have been around the same age. His life consists of TV and sports, and he has never had to work such a day in his life. He will never have to sell corn on the streets to support his family, and will never go to bed on an empty stomach. Yet, this boy has to do more than my brother ever will merely to survive.

I had never been shaken by poverty such as I was at that moment. That boy affected me more intensely than anyone had ever done before and suddenly I felt like giving him everything I owned. Instead, I walked over to him with a five rand coin, and not really knowing what I was doing, held it out and asked "Can I give this to you?" Cupping his hands to receive the coin, he looked up at me through the saddest eyes and gave the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. I will never forget it. I struggle to write this smile, as every time I attempt, I cross it out in fury. But I will tell you one thing: It came straight from his heart. For a moment, I believed I had just saved his life.

Five rands. That's about 80 cents. I thought about the smile a lot later. Five rands is nothing to me, and yet, in return for it, I received a smile that has truly changed my life. It might sound ridiculous that such a tiny incident could have such an impact on someone, but sometimes even the biggest things are triggered by something minute. This is when I realized that I can make a difference, and what I may consider small could mean the world to someone else. B'nai Tzedek allows me to donate $25 dollars a year to any cause I would like to support. ($25 is about 175 rands). If I was to give 175 rands to children like the one I met that day in South Africa, I would receive in return 35 similar smilesÐsmiles that change lives. A smile I would give anything to see again.