Finding Compassion

I work with children at an after-school care program. I have a group of about 22 children, ranging from the ages of 7-9 years.
The normally argue with each other about silly things... i.e, "Hey! I was sitting there first!", "Hey! That's my pencil!!!", "I want to kick the ball!". These arguments usually led to me lowering my expectations of their personalities and the fact that they could even probably have one thought in their brains that isn't selfish.

They proved me wrong today.

Kid don't normally listen to the news, or pick up a newspaper to read about the current events. They usually don't care about anything except for what's happening at home, or at school. In the wake of the terrible earthquake that hit Haiti, I decided I would fill my students in a bit about it.

I told them about Haiti, and how it is a very poor country. I told them where Haiti was located. I told them about the earthquake and what an earthquake was. I also told them the truth about what is happening down there. I told them about the people that had died, and the children that were suffering without food, or water. Children that are their age.

I asked them to close their eyes and to imagine living without proper electricity. Not having any video games, or even a notebook to write in. I asked them to imagine themselves going hungry for days because there is nothing to eat, and I asked them to imagine sleeping under a tree because there is not shelter anymore, due to the earthquake.

When they opened their eyes, the class fell silent. I told them that the children in Haiti that are their age, are suffering. Looking around, I noticed faces saddened by the news, and to my astonishment, a young girl, only 7 years old, was crying.

I asked her why she was crying and she told me it was because she felt sorry for the people in Haiti, and she wished that there was a way that she could help them. The compassion this little girl showed at such a young age brought tears to my eyes. I hugged her and told her that there was a way to help.

My class is now starting a drive to bring in food and other needs for the people of Haiti. I have never been soo proud of my class until today. Just knowing that they are open to helping others in need, people who are complete strangers, just fills me with soo much joy.