Today, I ran across the blog of a lady who is serving in Burundi, Central Africa.

This statement made me realize a misconception I hold...

The squandered resource of central Africa is human intelligence and initiative. There is not enough work to go around, and due to poverty and lack of development, much of the work that is done is difficult, menial, and does not use the obvious prevalent intelligence of these people.

I realized that when I think of people in impoverished countries, I put them in this box labeled uneducated, or probably something worse, like stupid.

I don't have any evidence or experience that would point me to that assumption, but for some reason I had made it. I would guess that it stems from my life here in the US, where opportunity is abundant. Here in the US, everyone goes to elementary, middle and high school, some by force. Beyond that, nearly anyone who desires to can go on to college. Yeah, it is expensive, but the option is there, and so is the funding. In some of these countries, there are people that want to learn, want to go to school, and want to work. The unfortunate thing is that they do not have that opportunity.

I find it hard to believe that God placed all the intelligent people in the developed countries. Maybe the cure for cancer or AIDS is in the mind of some child in an under-developed, under-educated, under-privileged country.

Thanks Peggy for the wake up call.

Labels: activism, blogosphere