Shrill cries and breathless screams are all around me. Children grasping for air between fits of rage and fear. No one understands why they weep uncontrollably (nor do they seem to care), but I suspect that all they long for is love and comfort. Yet, in this culture, children's tears serve only to elicit more punishment. Punishment so severe it makes me cringe with horror. The constant beatings are so incredibly alarming--a forceful slap on the back, 10 slashes with a tree branch, twisting earlobes, and serious blows to the head with a metal flashlight. Imagine witnessing all the above on a regular basis.
I have no doubt that my host family loves their children. However, they are certainly the exception to the rule. Others do very little to ensure that their children are well fed, clean, and healthy. It is quite heartbreaking to see the horrible conditions in which some children are forced to live. Chronic malnutrition, fly-infested surroundings, filthy homes, streets flooded with raw sewage, decaying animal carcasses ravaged by disease and years of mistreatment, and unbelievable poverty. These are just a few of the realities of life here in Mauritania. It's no wonder few children thrive in such a harsh environment.
Despite all the obstacles that stand in their way, the four children in my host family seem oblivious to the fact that their lives will be severely limited by their circumstances. I wonder how long their youthful innocence will last in such a cruel world; a world with such extreme highs and lows like the very mountains and valleys that surround me in the desert. It is so incredibly easy for me to climb one of the peaks overlooking Senegal to escape the reality of life in Mauritania. I just wish it were that simple for others as well.
Until next time!
Peace,
Janine
