In the past few years because of the economy here on the islands more people are migrating to the main island of Tahiti to look for work. However, work here on this island is limited and people don't have work. Therefore, the people from the outer islands are forced to stay on the streets if they don't have family here on the main island. These people live on the streets and will try everything they can to make money. They will try sculpting in wood, making baskets out of coconut tree leaves, or even brooms from the center of the coconut leaf. They try to sell them on the street so they can eat.
When I see this I can't help myself, I give money to them to help them out. However, they are proud people and don't want you to just hand them money. They will give you something in return. Many of the people I see on the streets right now are older people who children have taken their homes and retirement away from them. They basically have forced them off their land, out of their home, and left them on the street to die. It hurts to see this and when I do I offer what I can to help them out.
The last time I was in town, I was waiting for the bus. This young boy was digging in the trash and found some food a person threw away. He took it out of the trash and offered to share it with others as he sat there and ate. I was so sad when I saw this that I went across the street to buy this child some food so he didn't have to eat the food out of the trash.