The children go to school now and, one hopes, their generation will have a better life. This is everyone's dream, but at times it seems very far off. Social Realities International trade, debt, corruption, exploitation, and heartless economic policies make basic commodities more costly. The poorest of the people, like those on the hill, suffer more. The Church often cries out, the only voice of the poor which might be heard, yet in truth the cry is sometimes limited, cautious, careful not to offend and all too easy to ignore.
Life is hard.
There is no such thing as a safety net, and social security is available only for those with a good job and regular income. The great majority in Latin America are not included in this definition. Because of such poverty, the scarcity of jobs, and the lack of such basics as water, sewage, health care, and decent education, there is much sickness, and malnutrition is more the rule than the exception. This translates into a daily lived experience which is harsh and cruel. Children and mothers often are the most vulnerable.