Many years ago, in the 90s, I lived in a part of Africa where poverty should not have been a problem. But due to the greediness of the leadership and self-centeredness of the average citizen, poverty ravaged the life of her citizens and the immigrants within her borders.

 I saw the children from the Republic of Niger, a country that bordered to the south of the country where I was a resident. It was--and still is--one of the poorest countries in the world.

 At the time, I did not have any money. I was a student on placement and depended on my parents for support. Even when I served the country with the government, my average monthly pay was less than $20. However, I had a heart full of compassion. Each time I met them /those in need at the bus station, I would talk with them in the little bit of English they could understand and would give them what little I had. Many of them were Muslim, but a compassionate heart is devoid of racial, religious or sexual bias. I wanted to see them well dressed and fed, accommodated and, above all, well educated.

 I said to myself, “When God blesses me, I would love to have a platform that can impact and change the lives of people in all areas of life.”