Today was payday at my project. As most paydays go, the money the women had earned for the month was desperately needed, so they were excited and the atmosphere was positive. Usually the ladies at the project make a group lunch on paydays, splurging on cool drink and meat. Today was no exception. By 10am, meat was in the frying pan, rice was being boiled, and a delicious smelling sauce was bubbling on the stove.
There are usually a few of the women's children around, some on school break and some too young to attend school. One of the ladies' daughters had been playing with friends from around the neighborhood. When her mother called her to lunch, she innocently asked if her friends could have lunch too. The ladies told the friends, a little boy and girl, to go ask their mother if she had money to contribute to the meal. They came back empty handed.
The daughter said, "It's ok, I'll share my meal." She then took her small plate of food and let the friends eat as much as they wanted, only taking a small portion for herself. One of the ladies, realizing how hungry the kids clearly were, put together every bit of leftover rice and sauce they had and gave it to the kids. The little boy and girl eagerly scraped the pot and didn't let a single grain of rice go to waste. Afterwards, they thanked every adult on site and complimented them on how good the food was.
Stories and scenes like these are not uncommon to Peace Corps Volunteers. They make take a different form, but the general principle is still the same. Sometimes kindness overcomes dreadful circumstances.
