lafeminista

There I was, a little blonde girl fresh out of her first year in college, riding in the back of a rusty, worn out old W.H.O. Jeep with 8 other field workers from the Swaziland Health Department. We were heading to the poorest town of Siphofaneni in the Lubombo district, a region worst hit by Malaria, a region ravaged by AIDS. As I sat in the back of this donated jeep, able to see the ground passing beneath my feet through various rusted out holes in the bottom - I thought; What am I doing here? With all the privileges of the world resting on my shoulders, who was I to think these people needed my help?

Our work finally began, waking up early one morning to work at the McCorkindale's Orphanage in the Manzini District. This orphanage was particularly special as it is dedicated to rescuing HIV positive children as well as those who have no family due to the virus. As we got there, they brought all the children out - to sing for us! There was one little girl who stood out to me, she was in the far back singing to her feet. I went to ask her name, no response. I asked her age, no response. Still looking at her feet she gently took my hand and for the rest of the day we did everything together. Yet she never spoke a single word.

Late that night after dinner everyone was sitting around a bonfire, my little girl sitting in my lap. The night was quiet, all of us tired when suddenly, the little girl looked up at me. Ahe looked at me for a long time. Then beginning to appear, a faint twinkle, then a smile to a full fledged grin. The little girl who sang to her feet and never spoke was smiling up at me!

In the weeks to come, I found myself in that rusted out Jeep, questioning myself and my actions in this foreign country. My thoughts went back to that beautiful smile I hoped I had had some part in creating. Perhaps giving back doesn’t mean solving other peoples problems or being needed, maybe giving back just means making a little girl smile.