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zulfiqar rashidDuring our travels many of us have been confronted by young children begging for money, knowing on some basic level the cash they receive doesn’t stay in their pockets. Most travelers don’t contribute for this reason, despite wanting to help kids who are clearly living in extreme poverty. Unfortunately this system of child abuse goes deeper than many of us could imagine. My live chat guest today will answer your questions on the economy of forced begging, the process of child binding, and what you should do the next time a small palm asking for change is extended in your direction.

Zulfiqar Rashid was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and spent the first eighteen years of his life in Pakistan and France. He is the author of The Rat-Boys of Karalabad, a book based on the system of organized beggary, which is a deep-rooted part of society in Southeast Asia.

Leave your questions for Zulfiqar in the comments below. He’ll be by later today, Tuesday June 3rd from 10:30pm-1:30am US EST to answer them live.

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Zulfiqar will be here for a few hours this evening to answer any questions you have about organized begging. Don’t be shy to ask things you think you should already know as we all benefit from learning where our assumptions meet reality.