Every country has wealthy people, poor people, and many people in between. For many years in South Africa, black people were not allowed to go to school. Without education, they couldn’t get good jobs to support themselves and their families. Here’s the result.

There are still grown-ups in South Africa today who didn’t have the opportunity to go to school while growing up. Sadly, they’re doomed to live the rest of their lives under very poor conditions. Most of them live in areas called “townships,” with hand-made shacks, some without electricity or plumbing. The good news is that there are now schools for all South African children. I hope they study hard and learn lots each day so they’ll have a brighter future.

Here are some pictures I took while visiting one of the local townships. Imagine what it would be like living here….