What does poverty look like?

Because we live onboard a ship, we always see more of the port city than the rest of the country that we are in. That means that it's sometimes easy for us to forget just how much need there is here in West Africa. We see hundreds of people coming to the ship for surgery and medical assistance - but what does poverty look like? A few miles outside the capital of Cotonou people live totally different lives from anything most of us will ever experience. Not just another country, but another time, another world. A place where every day is about struggling to survive. A place where wondering what to wear is due to having nothing to choose from, not from an abundance of choice. A place where a simple skill like weaving or sewing can make the difference between a family starving or surviving. A place that needs everything we can offer - and more.