- ATD Fourth World

We tried to join in the life of the poor families.

Many young people I know want to unite and work together to allow families to not stagnate in misery and degradation. Testimonies of other friends, published in the Letter to Friends Around the World, help us to broaden our thinking and enlighten our minds towards horizons, so as to be loving, and enter deeply into the reality that poor children live, so that they can find their place in society. (…) One day we took the time to go for a walk in a rural locality, where we met children who lived in deplorable conditions. They had sores. They slept in the street, in damaged vehicles and trucks. We got to know them by doing the same things they did along with them. Some made cars with cans of food, others played, others remained calm and watched. We made contact with them, gave them first aid, and shared a meal together. We met some of their relatives to get to know them. (…) Another time we made a trip to another village. There we were faced with another reality, that of children, considered to be badly-born, who are not accepted by their families. The elders explained to us their reasons why these children were rejected. We spent a long time going over the whole question to try to find a solution to this reality we saw before us. (…) Everywhere we went to visit, we tried to join in the life of the poor families by going alongside them. For example, we laboured in the fields, we did the washing, we tended the stores of the little children, and cut the nails of the elderly… we looked after them in order to bring them some joy.

From a correspondent in Bénin (Letter to Friends n° 50 )

Bread earned in dignity is more nourishing

We are a group of about 50 mothers, who have renounced the aid programmes in order to rise above our poverty through our own means. We thought that if we were to earn our children’s bread through effort and with dignity, it would be better and more nourishing. Thanks to a friend’s help, we managed to obtain a loan from some NGOs so that we could buy some chicks to raise. After three months the hens started to lay and thus our children had eggs in their hands. We sacrificed some of the hens for food and sold several others to pay back the loan, which thankfully was at 0% interest. In this way we have shown that, given the opportunity, we women can work too. Work gives us dignity and makes us feel useful. This is the example we can set for our children in these difficult times.

From a correspondent in Peru (Letter to Friends n° 49)

Nelum.

(…) On 12 April 1992, Menika gave birth to a baby girl. She was named Nelum. Tragedy struck before Nelum was one year old. Menika died and the only one left to care for Nelum was her 6 years old sister Maggie. Unfortunately, circumstances were such that neither Nelum’s father, who was sick, nor her grandmother, who was an asthmatic, were able to play a consistent role in bringing up the children. Tony was still very small but he helped in whatever way he could. We kept visiting the family regularly and supported them as we could. When Nelum was two years old (whilst Maggie and Tony were at school) she joined the pre-school group. Nelum learnt to speak, read, write and count. She played with the other children and was happy. This year 1998 is a very special year for Nelum. Having completed five years in pre-school, she was admitted in January and I was happy to accompany Nelum to school on the first day. The Principal welcomed the parents and invited them to say a few words to the group. Since no one volunteered, I addressed the gathering.
I said: “Today the parents here have come to admit their children to school. I am not a parent. I have come on behalf of a father who is too sick to be here and of a mother who died suddenly when Nelum was a baby in her arms. Yet, Nelum’s education is important and it cannot be neglected. Nelum needs love and acceptance within the school community. I am sure she will receive this from the teachers and children in this school. At the same time, I wish to say that there are many other children like Nelum who need to experience love. The school can do much to help them to grow up in unity with the school family and to become good citizens in the future.” The Principal was pleased that I spoke and many parents too told me that they were touched by what I said. I too welcomed the opportunity I had of creating awareness amongst others, about less fortunate children in their midst. Now Nelum attends school regularly. She feels accepted and loved in the group.

From a correspondent in Sri Lanka (Letter to Friends n°43)

Protect children from harm

Serafino and Ricardo regularly witness violence in their community. They have not chosen this violence, yet they endure it, and it enters their body and their minds. They expressed the crucial need for a safe environment. “All children need to play, the poor children in the community too. In the residence where we live, parents don’t dare let us play outside because of the violence. So sometimes we play in the hallways or in the room, but there is not much space. It’s difficult. All children need to play, even if they don’t have a lot of things, even if they are poor.”

From Western Europe (Letter to Friends n° 53)