"Smokey Mountain II" in Tondo is a dump site in Manila and also home to many impoverished Filipinos. The dump is full of people that come to scavenge through the trash to collect anything that they can sell. Recyclable items like plastic, and bottles, and items that can be sold to a "junk shop" like cardboard or metal, are in demand. As you can see in the picture these people work long days to collect on average $3-$5 to live, eat, and support their families. It is also very dangerous as large machinery move very close to the workers. Most of the people actually have shacks built on site from trash that they have salvaged. It is so sad to visit this place and see many small children (starting around age 8 or 9) working and not at school. There are public schools that they can attend but many can't afford the small fee for a school uniform. Those that do go must also work at the dump to help support their family. When the sun goes down there is no electricity for lights to do homework and many can't even afford candles to burn. It makes me realize how lucky I was to be born in Canada. It is easy to things forgranted in life but a little easier to see here that we actually have it very good!
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