Sad desperate children sell fruit in Bolivia’s markets from Kelly’s Adventures

Upon arriving in Bolivia in 1977 I travelled by bus from Santa Cruz to LaPaz. Buses were often 1950s models, with lots of road dust inside and packed full of people. On long trips like this one that take 12 hours, the drivers would stop so you could buy some food from the local sidewalk markets and get a restroom break. I had already seen poverty in Brazil, where I had previously lived for 6 months, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience. Of all the food venders there was a Bolivian lady sitting on the ground with a blanket where little groups of tangerines were spread out. There were about one dozen groups of 5 little tangerines. Her daughter with her was about age seven, and should have been in school, but instead with a desperate cry on her voice would shout over and over, “Buy tangerines, hey mister, please buy my tangerines!”. I asked her, “How much are they?” She replied, “ Two pesos”, (about .05 of a dollar ). I bought them went back on the bus with tears down my face. How is it that so many people have so many things, while there are young sweet desperate children just like that girl just trying to survive on pennies? How unfair man’s systems are! When a child’s voice echoes with desperation, it touches you deep inside, or it should! I always try to help those who are barely surviving daily, and you?

Have mercy on those who suffer to survive