Ignorance, Pain vs. Hope, Education

Imagine having to live on a dump site, having to scavenge for food and drink water full of bacteria and germs. The number of children living in poverty in the world right now is more than 1 billion; that is one in every 2 children. In the Philippines there are about 12.8 million children under the age of 15 living in such hard and cruel conditions. Kesz is a 13 year old boy who lived in these cruel state and because of that he is trying to help the less fortunate so that they can have a better life. The 2012 International children’s peace prize winner Kesz, was rescued as a child, from a life on a dump , today he helps other street children by giving them hope and teaching them about hygiene.

At the age of 5, Kesz was rescued and given a better life, today he gives hope to other children. After being badly burned Kesz was admitted to hospital where he met his saviour. “The street educator immediately took him to the emergency room and had his wounds treated. He (Kesz) has transformed his own experiences into a drive to help other street children and inspire them to change their own lives..” When the fire blazed his arm he hardly had any hope that would force him to continue on but because of the street educator caring for him, he was able to survive and received a better life and because of this he was able to live and give others hope and more. He gained a trait of respect and kindness because of the street instructor. Using that trait he is helping other street children hope. “On his seventh birthday Kesz didn’t wish any presents for himself; he wanted to help other street kids instead.” This shows the thankfulness towards what he has received. Kesz knows that he is extremely lucky to be saved and cared for. If the street educator did not save him, he would probably have died. He wanted to help the other children just like the street eductor did to him, so using his organization, he teaches kids about hygiene and why its important. He teaches the kids about the dangerous things that are in the world and how to prevent getting sick. Despite the fact of himself being poor, he uses what he has to give others what he did not receive. This is selfless thing to do and a boy at his age being able to do such notable things, is a great achievement.

Kesz knows that living on the streets amongst garbage is unhealthy and is today helping other street children by educating them against the dangers of bad hygiene. “My family picks garbage to sell, garbage to use and garbage to eat. I used to drink water from a pothole...even from sewage canals.” Just because of his poor condition he was living in, he was forced to scavenge for food in a dump. Because the lack of education, he was not able to know that the dump food is actually harmful to you and your health and which can cause sickness or even in the extreme cases death. Knowing this, he wants the other children to live a better life and to live longer. “Since the launch of the organisation “Championing Community Children” in 2005 Kesz and his team have already distributed 5,000 “HOPE GIFTS” and helped over 10,000 children through the programmes set up by Kesz.” Despite the fact of himself being poor, he uses the knowledge that he has to improve other street children;s life, because of him some of the street children in the world were saved just by learning proper hygiene.

Even after Kesz was awarded his prize, he continues to protect, provide and give hope to the street children in the Philippines. He also educates them for their future because he knows from his own experience what could happen if you are ignorant to the harmful things in your society. You can make a difference just by going to a local school and teaching them about their hygiene on the weekends. You could follow Kesz step so that you will become a better person and give the street children hope and love.