The weekend my family came, Doctors without Borders set up a refugee camp in Centennial Park. D and I thought it would be a great school trip for Cody and Hannah. We all found it alarming and very informative. Walking through the camp, I could hear the children in Uganda that I met years ago. If you have ever gone to Uganda or other spots in Africa, you know what I mean when I say the people touch your life in a profound way and you never forget them. Their strength is amazing, their faith in God genuine and raw, and their true joy contagious and convicting at the same time.
Back to the refugee camp. They took you through in groups. The goal was to make you feel like a refugee for the 45 minutes it took to go through the camp...to empathize with the millions of displaced people around the world.
The first task for a refugee...leaving the danger for the safe place. We were trying to cross a border. How do you get passed the guard? Ideas offered by those in our group: kill the guard, overtake the guard, bribe the guard. We bribed the guard to cross the border. Once across the border, we start addressing the basics...housing, food, water.
Housing: These tents are set up for refugees. Often there are more people in the tent than can really fit. The kids are very innovative and make toys to play with.
BP-5 is a solid packet of food that can be dropped into a region.
Hannah trying the BP-5. She said "not bad". I didn't like it. But if I were starving, it would taste as good as a steak.
Toilets. To promote clean water, toilets are constructed. Signs are posted with instructions on how to use the toilets. Water and soap are provided for washing hands afterwards.
This is on the floor of the Toilet. You remove the center to expose the hole and stand on the footprints and squat.
The Cholera Clinic
One of the posters at the end of the exhibit.
Thank you Doctors without Borders for opening our eyes to the life of millions around the world. During our walk, our guide said he was asked the question "Why should a 17 year old care about refugees, care that people are dying?" His response was the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. I think reasons for caring are unique to the individual.
So...why should we care? Do Americans "deserve" better lives just because we were born in America? These are tough questions. For me, there is nothing more rewarding in this life than to make a difference.
To whom much is given, much is expected.
debra
No comments:
Post a Comment