Fighting Poeverty with a Passion?

So, as a VISTA, I'm supposed to be fighting poverty with a passion and creating things that will help my organization (CNADA) become more sustainable. I feel that I'm not really doing that much, but I also feel like I'm learning a lot, and potentially might be able to help more as this year progresses. I have learned that making a living wage and being on food stamps kind of sucks. I mean, I've just graduated from college, so being broke is something I'm used to, so it's not really a new feeling, but the VISTA perspective is really helping to make things seem more real. I have a point, I promise.

This morning, I got to work, and did the usual check the email, check out cnn.com to see what's happening in the world, go on Facebook and see what's up in the world of my friends, ect. When I got to CNN.com, I found a story about a cabby who took pictures of homeless people while driving around Istanbul. (Here's a link to his website.) Anyway, (despite the fact that this story comes from half the planet away), seeing this story kind of hit home and reminded me of how lucky I really am. While we as VISTAs are supposed to be living a minimum wage life, we still have connections if we need them. Most of us have at least a Bachelors. We've got friends and family in better positions than we are. We've got warm beds to sleep in and regular access to the internet. We've got running water and electricity in our apartments. We have plenty of food to live on. Most people in poverty, like in the pictures the cabby takes, probably don't have access to these things. They are lacking money, and therefore it's harder for them to gain the things and opportunities that we, as middle and upper class Americans, so often take for granted.

This year (so far) has helped me to realize what's important (friends and family) and things that might not be as important (tv, having the newest pair of shoes).