Birmese children in Mae Sai 1

Children from Myanmar at the Thai-border. They are allowed to be in Thailand during the day, but have to go back to Myanmar every afternoon. There is no doubt people in Myanmar are poorer than in Thailand. There were moments I was quite devastated. Begging children with my little nephew's eyes, brrr... Walking down the street one day, there was this group of 3- year-olds surrounding me, helding up their tiny hands for money. They were jumping around and kept following me. I could hardly walk. Then I suddenly stopped walking, I smiled and looked them in the eyes, one by one, and for a change it was me helding up my hand and asking -them- for money. They were so surprised they laughed out loud. And of course I had to laugh with them. One little boy with shiny black eyes pretended he was giving me money in my hand. Even more laughter followed. From the moment they can walk (even before) they are taught to beg. It becomes a game to them, a habit. I try not to give money to beggars. I believe in longterm solutions and empowering the people. I also know there are these organised gangs using children as their tool. And women getting abused by their husbands or gangmembers when they don't bring enough money at the end of the day. When you are living/travelling in less developed countries you will be confronted with poverity on a daily base. I had even a heavier heart in Manila. A monthly donation had been my lazy way not to think about this daily, but in Manila it was hard not to think about this over and over again. And to stick to my "system". Sometimes I couldn't resist and gave families some stuff they could use (and feeling weak afterwards) I wonder how you deal/ dealt with this during your stay in less developed countries. Please feel free to share.