Karen challenging those who read this to limit their judgment

This week I got to spend a lot of time at Silverstream in Manenberg. Silverstream is a high school that is surrounded by a lot of gang territory. I've continuously realized how lucky I am to have grown up in a safe, enriching environment. Not all of the students at this school realize how valuable education is.. and I completely understand why. There is so much corruption in these communities as a result of the apartheid and the lack of government support. Students have way more to worry about than the test or homework assignment they have due at the end of the week. Some people don't even have proper sanitation, so many young women are faced with challenges about going to school when they have their period because they have no resources like pads or tampons.

I am continuously in shock about the educational system here as compared to at home. If we all grew up with hearing/ seeing gunshots on the way to school, this would be a completely different world.

I challenge those who read this to limit their judgment on where a person is in life.. if someone is less financially stable than you, if someone is asking for money, if someone needs support from the government- don't automatically assume they are "lazy". Nobody chooses to be in poverty. If financial stability was a personal choice, the whole world would be full of financial wealth.