Postcards From The Edge: Peru - No Expectations

Growing up in the UK where every child has access to healthcare, has the right to go to school and prosper in a safe and secure environment; you wouldn’t imagine the harsh realities of how other children in developing countries are starting the most important years of their lives…

My parents of course had expectations, expectations that I will study and make something of my self and be an independent woman. I too have expectations - that I would study for my degree and work in a job I want to; my expectation was freedom to choose, freedom to study, freedom to work and freedom to be who I want to be.

Normal I suppose - we all expect something from life. But actually that’s not true, not everyone has that freedom, that choice, that expectation.

"What are rights on a piece of paper when they mean nothing in reality? You can’t exactly take the declaration of human rights and go to the local government and say “This is my right!”"

Growing up in a country where you don’t know when your next meal will be, or if your parents will still be able to send you to school the next day, or where your dad will get the money to take you to the hospital; how can you expect anything or hope for a better future? I guess that wouldn’t be so bad if children had access to basic resources that could just offer them the basics of freedom and choice.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of human rights on the news where someone is selling a story about how they have a right to divorce their parents or they have the right to wear the clothes they want; but that’s nothing compared to the rights children are fighting for in developing countries – grafting minimal amounts food, clean water, healthcare, education and security.

What are rights on a piece of paper when they mean nothing in reality?

You can’t exactly take the declaration of human rights and go to the local government and say “This is my right!” - especially in a country where there is political instability or in the middle of a war; it has to first be acknowledged and accepted.

I remember when I was in Peru and walking around the village (Las Flores in Ventanilla) looking at the shacks up close to see what amenities they had, the majority of them didn’t have electricity or a clean water supply they still were lived in. I asked one of the ladies living in the shacks about her living conditions and I told her how she does have the right to live in a better place… she smiled and said “Yes that’s what they say on the TV,  but we can’t just wait around for our rights to come”…

Words and photos: Romesa Chaudry. Romesa will be producing more Peru blogs in upcoming weeks.

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