They ARE deserving

This absolutely breaks my heart. I had the opportunity to both study in Italy and volunteer in Bosnia, so this really brought me to tears. After my experiences in both countries, I completely 100% believe that it is our responsibility and duty, and in fact should be our honor and genuine desire to help people who are part of vulnerable populations. After what I saw and heard in both countries, I firmly agree that people do not choose this type of life-but it is the kind of life experiences they have had that bring them to where they are. They should not be blamed or targeted, but should be regarded as people who are unique and could teach us all so much if we just listen. Therefore, I do believe that vulnerable populations ARE deserving of help.

When I went to Italy I noticed many children who looked so frail my first week there. I wondered why there were so many and why they were on the streets. My first weekend there, as I exited the metro, I felt a very strong tug against my shoulder. As I turned around I realized it was a group of 5 children running away from me. They tried to take my camera from me- but were unsuccessful because the strap was around my neck. After this experience I became interested in finding out how these children got on the streets, and why many of my friends in the program had wallets or other items taken within the first week by these children. I asked around and found out that there was so much hostility and prejudice against these children and their families. They were labeled as "gypsies" and I could just tell by the way many talked about them that something was all together wrong. I found out that many came from Russia or the Balkans in search of a better life, especially during the war in Bosnia during the 1990s. I did not really know much about Bosnia or the war but I would find out soon.
When I went to Bosnia to teach college students English, my new friends told me stories of what it was like to have lived in a country ravished by war for years. I saw visual depictions of the destruction that took the lives of many and forced many families to flee for their safety. Remnants of the national library right in the center of the capital, bullet holes on every face of the buildings people pass by every day, "red roses" on the ground which depicted where bombs struck the ground and took a life- war had never seemed so real to me. My friends told me that because of their ethnicity or religion their families had to run and leave everything behind-in their case they fled to the city of Zenica, which is where I lived that summer. Zenica was a refuge for them-camps were built to keep them safe from harm and the city was fortunately spared from physical destruction, but the emotional toll is something very present. However, not all families fled to Zenica, some fled to other neighboring countries, such as Italy. Everything seemed to make sense now-the children I saw in Italy were taken there by their families to find safety-to find a place where they would not be oppressed and threatened simply because they were a certain ethnicity or believed something different. Yet, they were not received in Italy with open arms.

I could go on for pages about what I saw and heard. My Bosnian friends were some of the nicest, most hospitable, gentle-spirited, determined, hard-working people I have ever met. I imagine myself and my family in the situation they were and still are in-and I ask myself if I would be that strong. I ask myself if my family and I had to flee for safety to another country, how would we be received. Would we be denied the common courtesy, respect, love, and compassion that everyone is entitled to? Would we be isolated and alienated, blamed and targeted?
I completely understand that "helping vulnerable populations" is easier said than done. I know that there are language and cultural barriers. I know that it would require a lot of resources and also a lot of emotional healing, forgiveness, and cohesive efforts on the parts of various people groups. I know it would be difficult, but I think it is necessary.