“Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times-times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry, and wealth accumulation…” ~Nelson Mandela

The exquisitness of the natural beauty of South Africa takes my breath away every day…smiles with heartfelt tears…for the deplorable and abject poverty of the majority of South Africans causes my heart to weep daily…

Honestly…I don’t like to contemplate such abject poverty…there is no escape…statistically… Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day

Medallin, Columbia

I grew up in what I thought was being “dirt poor”…driving from Wisconsin to Indiana in this beat up jelopy of a car…my parents..3 of my siblings and a dog…watching the road go by through the hole in the floorboard…

But we had food on the table…as sparse as it could be a times…and a roof over our heads…

I am not negating that there is poverty in the United States…there are people that live in the streets…and even more that struggle to make ends meet day-to-day…

Here in South Africa…it is more visual with over 30 million people living in extreme poverty…and while several countries including China, Indonesia have experienced economic growth and are now experiencing decreased poverty lines…Africa has not…*the article is fanscinating…check it out…if you can…

Poverty is too complex a social issue to be answered with a one-size-fits-all strategy…and I am inadequate and helpless to change the world and fix all the issues of humanity…but I can…we can…with gratitude and love… change the life of one person at a time…which like pebbles in a pond…can transform our world…

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Walking in Grace: Discovering Beauty Together
Renée E. Santiago

Illuminating Hope Through Photography & Words In every photograph I take and story I share, my purpose is to walk alongside others, inspiring hope and transformation. Together, we uncover life’s quiet miracles, weaving imagery and words into sanctuaries of strength, renewal, and compassion. Through the art of seeing, I aim to help you discover beauty, resilience, and light in even the darkest moments. Here, may we find inspiration to heal, grow, and embrace the profound grace in life’s journey.

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