As we all know, not all countries around the world live in ideal conditions. We always hear of America and Europe as the regions with the best quality of life, and Africa as the worst place to live. This is a rough portrait of the global economic disparities. However, many people in need around the world are forgotten. In many countries, a large part of the population lives in extreme poverty, but isn't considered by anyone because the national economy is not bankrupt.

The population of Peru suffers from this abandonment. In 2007, I went on a humanitarian trip to this country and I have witnessed the poor conditions in which a large part of the population lives. However, this reality is kept away from the tourists and the areas they visit. As such, when people visit, they have the impression that it is a developed country, but this is because they have only been in great cities and other fake touristic paradises. In reality, a majority of the people there live in the mountains, sustaining themselves with basic agriculture.

During my trip I have stayed in some of those families and adopted their lifestyle for a few days. It was not easy for the average Canadian that I was to sleep between four walls made dried mud and to eat some kind of potage that does not even look like food. However, my stay made me realise a very important reality.

In many countries around the world, a large part of the population live in extreme poverty, but they aren't looked upon because the national economy is acceptable. So they live in their misery, forgotten by the rest of the world. It is the case in Peru just like in many other countries. Poverty extends far beyond Africa or the other classical stereotypes we have. It is crucial that we turn our eyes towards Third World countries that have been forgotten for too long. That does not mean to stop helping the nations we are supporting right now, but humanitarian aid should be shared to help others that are in need.