Fragments of poverty

Anaïs

by Anaïs

Story

When people wake up every morning to face a new day, they do so under different circumstances. Some live in comfortable homes with many rooms, a full fridge, a wardrobe full of clothes and a reasonable degree of financial security. Others are less fortunate. They have inadequate food and shelter, especially if they are among the poorest third of the population. They are more likely to get sick, they may not know how to read or write, they may be unemployed, and they rarely have a prospect for a better life in the future. Up until today, this part constitutes a majority of the earth’s 7 billion people. In fact, two third of the world’s population are considered poor, and 40 % still live on less than $2 a day, part of a condition of absolute poverty.

Of course I had already heard about this before I rediscussed it in class over here in Yogyakarta, where I am doing a semester abroad. But in my previous experiences, poverty used to be so far away. It was some unimaginable opponent to my own way of life, a strange and distant sympathy that I carried around with me – not less, but also not more. As a privileged person, you can read about poverty, watch a documentary about it, even get involved by donating some money. But after that, there is always something you have to do, someone you have to see, somewhere you have to go. In the global north, we usually deal with poverty in very small portions and bits during our days. Living in Yogyakarta, absolute poverty is part of our everyday life.

What we see in the South are Riksha drivers that are barely able to sit upright anymore, sleeping in their vehicles during the midday heat in the most uncomfortable positions.

What we see on the roads close to our house are dozens of street food sellers, carrying around their stands on wheels behind them, dependent on every single blessing the day might bring.

What we see on our way to university are people walking on the roads through the rush hour traffic, trying to sell snacks and newspapers to the bypassing scooter drivers.

Basically, what I see over here is everyone trying so hard. Everyone is doing something. Everyone is fulfilling a purpose, however small it may seem. And so many do it with a stoical happiness, almost defiance towards their fate. It’s really the smile on their faces when we pass by that moves me most. There is no resentment, no bitterness. Most seem to have accepted life as a hardship they need to overcome in order to find something else. Heaven, maybe. A better life after death. Nirvana. Whatever it might be. Their patience and calmness is remarkable to me. Like they know something, see something, that we just don’t.

At the end of this story, there is no call to action. No white saviourism, no sympathy. This fragment exists to make you feel something. And whatever it is that you are feeling right now, whatever the change might be that you can bring into this world to make it a better and fairer place – please, stop hesitating. Do it.

So I guess this is a call to action after all.

© Anaïs 2021-03-05