There’s something you need to realize. Just based on the fact that you’re reading this, you’re instantly more privileged than much of this world.
Think about it: You live in a part of the world where you can legitimately worry about “How to Move On from an Almost Relationship” or "What your Zodiac sign says about your sexuality." Your life may not be perfect, but it’s important to remember that it’s a hell of a lot better than some people’s lives in this world. So before you check out “10 Things to Know Before Dating Someone Who’s Always in Their Head,” let’s talk about 11 things that only make sense to you if you’re growing up in a third world country.
1. When all of your family gets malaria, AIDS, or both. And you know you’re next.
AIDS currently effects the lives of 36.9 million people in the world with tens of millions already having died of the disease. There are roughly 207 million new cases of malaria each yearand about 627,000 people die of the disease annually. The diseases primarily effect the sub-Saharan African region: 70% of AIDS casesoccur here and 90% of those stricken with malaria live in this region. Treatment for both diseases is expensive and people in impoverished areas are usually unable to afford medicine, causing people to become infected on a daily basis.
2. When ISIS is attempting to systematically destroy your culture.
Of the world’s population, 23% of people, or 1.6 billion, identify as Islamic. Currently, there are an estimated 200,000 people who are a part of ISIS, or the terrorist group that has organized terror attacks such as the tragedy in France. The 200,000 extremists give the 1.6 billion religious a bad name as many people automatically associate Muslim people as terrorists which is not an inherent fact. The group promotes hate while the religion promotes peace, and ISIS’ attempts to destroy those who are not in accordance with their jihadist views harms the view of the religion.
3. When your 10-year old brother was recruited to be a child soldier.
Many of the child soldiers are in the Middle East and are used to purposes such as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or as sex slaves. These children are under the age of 18 and the children who are at the most risk are those who are impoverished, displaced and uneducated.
4. When this month is the first you’ve made it through in a while without a case of both flies, jiggers, or some other parasite.
Jiggers are a type of sand parasite that resides in sub-Sahraran African region. The parasites infect feet primarily and are transmitted through livestock and make their way into homes, schools and people's feet and other areas of the body. The insects lay eggs and when hatched, the parasites consume the flesh of those they leech onto. Many people cannot afford shoes to prevent the parasites from latching, and the social stigma surrounding the issue prevents many people from getting treatment.
5. When you haven't eaten in weeks.
As of 2015, 795 million people suffer from hunger and 98% of people suffering from hunger live in developing countries. Some of these causes include poverty, war, agriculture, displacement and food wastage.
6. When you have to worry about the water killing you.
In developing countries, up to 80% of illness are related to unclean water. People have to worry about whether or not the water is carrying diseases that can cause severe illness or even death. Students miss school due to their illnesses and young women often drop out of school around puberty due to the lack of sanitation in schools.
7. When your government is corrupt or incompetent to the point that people are dying from it.
Many developing nations such as Haiti, Guinea, and Myanmar are subject to the brutality of a corrupt government. Officials may accept bribes, be self-serving and have no concern for the lives of civilians whose lives are affected and even ended due to brutality, violence and corruption.
8. When you are told you aren’t allowed to drive, just because of your sex.
In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to obtain their drivers licence because of their sex. Despite there being no mention of women being forbidden to operate automobiles in the Koran, women are still oppressed on the basis of their sex.
9. When the ground in your literally nation can't grow the food you need...
Drought is a huge reason that many nations' lands cannot grow food. Along with drought, deforestation, climate change, erosion and natural disasters are factors that prohibit a nation from growing food that is necessary for survival.
10. ... and your nation can't afford to buy food or fix the situation.
People in a poverty trap often cannot afford to purchase food or the resources necessary to cultivate food. Lack of education, infrastructure, irrigation, seeds, equipment, and the inability to purchase these resources all account for nations' stalemate when it comes to producing food.
11. When you wish your problems were small enough to care about what color a cup is.
We all have our problems and trials that we undergo on a daily basis, but the fact of the matter is that some people's problems are not actually problems, especially when compared to the plight of others. Next time you consider complaining about something, perhaps consider whether or not the object of your complaint is actually something worth worrying over or if you should focus your energy on helping others.
