As a world traveler, I've been to some places affected by war. Last year, I took a mission trip to Cambodia teaching English to children and young adults for about a month. I must say that it was one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my life.
The hunger of the youth for learning and exchange with the global community is astounding. Children as small as four years old being totted by their mothers on scooters to make it to school. College students biking 5 miles in the dark just to get to classes so that they may improve their lives is amazing. The will to better oneself is universal, and the desire for knowledge is not limited to only those with the means. For people who are not in the know, Cambodia has only begun rebuilding itself since it was plagued with genocide and civil war in the 1970's.
From what I saw there, it is evident that the effects of conflict take a long time to be relieved, especially in nations where infrastructure has long been whittled down to the very dust clinging to our bare feet. Nations like Afghanistan, Chad, and the Congo, as mentioned in the video, are struggling to help their children. As the Good book says, "Man does not live by bread alone." Our children should not only be filled in their bellies but also their minds. Should we remain callous while there are others suffering? Should there be education inequality, especially in the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics, in this day and age where some nations gain knowledge by the click of the mouse?
I sure hope we care enough for our brethren that we strive to find better solutions to get them their educational need.
