Yesterday I was driving to Esperanza, the home town of Rosa. We stopped for gasoline and a young boy of 12 who worked polishing shoes asked for a ride. I was a bit confused as to why he was alone and why he was so far from Esperanza. I later learned he came to Santiago (about 25 miles) a few times a week to work. I was stunned that a parent would send one of their children so far away to work, and in such a dangerous location, alone. Rosa said this is unfortunately all too common here in the Dominican Republic. He is working to help his family survive. It looked like he lived with a single parent, his father likely long gone. Not the wisest choice of his mom to put her son in such a dangerous position, however without his income the family might not eat. I thought about what I was doing when I was 12. Hopefully Kelvin will be lucky enough to choose the right people to ride home with.
I hope I can help Kelvin a bit from time to time, even if it is only to minimize the danger he faces daily. Perhaps I should return the 42? LED TV and speaker system I had to reorganize to fit Kelvin in the car. ...tom
I hope I can help Kelvin a bit from time to time, even if it is only to minimize the danger he faces daily. Perhaps I should return the 42? LED TV and speaker system I had to reorganize to fit Kelvin in the car. ...tom