The Ineffectual Woman: what to do with a life.

There's a woman I know who wants more than anything to change the world. Should I say first that she want's to take Atlas's place as the bearer of pain. The panacea of all earth's troubles has come down to Peace Corps service and the outreach to children. The sad fate of the world's disadvantaged youth growing up in the developing countries compels her. Nothing is too heavy and no child is not innocent. Her joy as the bearer of this quest is, however, her greatest source of pain. The pressure draws from her a piece of herself which this world can not return in favor. Terror's eat at her soul to know that one innocent child can only be saved from a single moments troubles. Even the thoughts of a ripple throughout that single child's life is not enough to prompt a calmer heart. She is paralyzed by these fears of ineffectiveness. This multiplying effect where witnessing a single bad incident feeds increasing doubt infects the value of all deeds no matter what their potential positive effects.
To me, this isn't a question of development. There are just those people in the world that are going to do terrible things. Even when the authorities try to react to them or social structures are created in hopes of preempting tragedy and terror before it starts, I can't foresee an end to the possible awfulness people are capable of with each other.
Thinking about this volunteer I can only hope, for her sake, that she finds some way to cope with what will otherwise consume her. Listening to her thoughts and anger toward Basotho who beat their children I can't help but notice my own feelings. It's strange how almost cold I feel about such an awful thing. I've similarly thought how callous I feel toward beggars. My skill at turning people away has become so good; I can see it in their eyes, I can notice someone preparing to ask me for something even before we get within speaking distance. To this end I can't give this particular volunteer any advice. For me, I have shut my self down to situations that I can't control.
I hope I haven't become too much of a realist loosing my optimistic idealism. Instead, I'd like to think I have gained an informed perspective; rather a perspective that is always learning from the ever changing possibility that people achieve in their own lives.