I hadn’t made a separate post about this earlier because Cyclone Sidr kind of took precedence over everything else, but Episode Three of The Uncultured Project is now online at YouTube. In Episode Three, I talk about a kid whose just 15 years old but is in business for himself. He goes around collecting water bottles and gives people vegetables in exchange for them. He then recycles these bottles and makes a profit. The profit isn’t much though – it’s about $2 a day on a good day.
As amazing as this story is, I kind of felt sad because I know $2 a day isn’t enough to pull one out of extreme poverty. It’s very easy to fall back into extreme poverty if a catastrophe struck which would make it hard to work or add additional expenses. It looks like I spoke with an unfortunate bit of prescience – as Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh days after the filming of this episode was complete.
If you haven’t already, please consider checking out Episodes One and Two. If you like what you see please consider rating the videos, commenting, or subscribing to The Uncultured Project YouTube Channel.
Hi,
I just wanted you to know that I think that what you are doing is amazing. There are many people who think that a single person can’t do much about poverty in the world but I think that even helping one person is already a big thing. A life is very precious.
When I go to Bangladesh and see all those poor people on the street I feel something that I can’t really describe. You cannot not wish to help them when you see their situation with your own eyes.
And I talk too much, sorry… lol
Anywayz, bravo and thank you for what you are doing.
Hey Sameena, thank your for your kind words.
I first came to Bangladesh when I was a child and I would leave with tears in my eyes and a sorrow that could be felt in the pit of your stomach. Why was the poor suffering so much?
I’ve grown older but that sorrow still remains. But instead of crying I’m kind of left confused. I’m trying my hardest to make a difference but for every small difference I make, 10 things seem to make things worse.
Take this cyclone for example. I helped some people a few months back during the floods. Are they okay now after the cyclone? What about the people I gave mosquito nets to? Do they have a home with a bed to put the net over now?
Thanks again for your words of support.
- Shawn
P.S. Just to prove you don’t talk to much I made this reply longer than your original comment