36 Square Feet

Shaun Groves reports on his trip in Uganda for Compassion International:

How big is your bedroom? Mine’s about 12 x 15.

Your closet? Probably as big as a house.

Yesterday we broke into small groups of four and visited the homes of children cared for by Compassion International. Over the open sewers, through the market, down alleyways, until we reached this house for seven: A mother and her six children in 36 square feet.

Imagine a family living in your closet. A set of bunk beds to the right and a single bed to the left. Walls made of sticks and mud. Floors of dirt. Their attic is the top bunk. Their basement is the space under the bed. Their bathroom is the soil outside. Their kitchen is the alley. Their tooth brush holder is the space between door frame and mud wall.

Read the whole thing.