Heart over Head

In everything that I have read and learned, I have been told not to give money to begging children. Over here, often young kids are exploited by their parents or families and do not see the money that you give them. Also, there are thousands of kids here that need help, and even the "rich white obruni" doesn't have the money to help everyone and stay in college. However, knowing this information in your head does not ease the pain or guilt when you look into the face of a hungry child and say that you can not help them. So far, I have been able to offer them random pieces of fruit that I have with me to avoid simply giving money. But sometimes I am not stocked and have to make the decision of head or heart. This weekend, I went to Kokrobite, this beach area about 45 minutes out of Accra. The beach is an interesting mix of local fishermen and tourists alike and one can sit on the beach and watch the men pull in the fishing nets at the same time as people lie on the beach sipping their pina coladas... So Friday when we got in, there was a show of traditional African dance, and the tourists and locals alike got together to enjoy. Soon, a small girl came between my friend, Carolynn and I and held our hands. She smiled warmly and finally fell asleep in my lap. She woke up, and instead of asking for money, looked at me and softly spoke the word "bread." Having no food to give her, I decided to this once, give her the equivalent of US$2. She promptly jumped up and ran with it to her mom across the way. For the rest of the weekend, I saw this new friend going around with white folk asking for money. It is so hard to know what to do here about poverty or how to help...and I don't think it is ever going to get easier for me to deny food to hungry kids... even when I know theyre going to dupe me.