Walking at last
Walking to the gym tonight for a session of stretching I passed a family of five or so idly standing across the footpath. A little toddler, eyes fixed ahead, started unsteadily walking toward his father from his sister across the path I was to pass.
I tried to sidestep the child, but instead seemed to be like a magnet and for a few seconds it was as though we were doing some strange dance together. I stood and watched, the child reached his father, then staggered off in the direction of more adventure.
The father and I exchanged a few remarks. It turns out this child had been walking only less than a week. Everything was before him now. The family encouraging his every move- doting in wonder.
How remarkable a young child is, and how wrong that so many children particularly in Sub-Sarahan Africa never reach the age to take their first steps. This should be a sobering reflection for us all.
What if it were you instead?
Building Bridges 
October 11, 2010 at 11:18 pm
We can see an inequality everywhere in the world.
For me, We are lucky person to be in the develop country and lucky to have perfect family. My parents always told to their 3 daughter that ” If you know how to receive. On the other hand, don’t forget to give to another as much as you can.” I will as much as i can.
I can not imagine Matt! if i were them. It’s very depressed for me.
October 12, 2010 at 6:57 am
Thanks Jui, Great memory from your parents.
Do you see things differently coming from Thailand?
October 12, 2010 at 8:23 am
For sure!! Matt. I saw.
I compare between Australia and Thailand because I knew, Africa have a big problem. But another thing, I understood that Thailand stll be developing country not dovelop!!! Do you know when i was youg, i heard about that. But nowaday,I still have heard that Thailand’s developing country. I don’t know when Thailand will change that status.
Anyway, I am going to talk about children VS inequality in Thailand. I focuse on Education (but a lot of thing happing now). Sometime, you can see children walking on the street in their hands hold garland (the flower make like a wheel) because they want to sell (I can not explain to you because if i write,it will be a book.)
At the end, When i saw them I thinking and asking myselfe that When children are going to school? When they have time for play football? When time for eat, sleep etc……. In that time, what i can do? Just give them some money or snack. This case just happing in the city, thinking about another part of Thaiand which part far away from city. That’s povrty and inequality in my country.
October 12, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Really important considerations Jui! Especially the opportunities available to young girls. Sometimes the future for them is not good. I think change all starts with asking the right questions.
These questions about education are a big part of the Millennium Development Goals, and incredibly important to address.
Also, go to the ‘Categories’ or ‘Tags’ cloud on the side bar of the website here and click Hans Rosling. It will bring up some blog posts with some video’s where he explains how the terms ‘developing’ and ‘developed’ are inaccurate and not helpful. Interested to know your thoughts after you see those videos! He is a great communicator, and a little bit amusing as well, so you should enjoy watching them!