today was my first day at my new job. it is just a temporary post at the moment as the details of contracts and salaries and technicalities are sorted out, but it didn't stop me from being nervous.
in the end, there was no reason to worry and it was difficult to slip back into the system that i left a few years ago. the workload will be heavy and the obstacles in front of the team, rather substantial. but if i am up for a challenge, it is there for the taking.
i can tell that the challenges will include: desks not lined up in any logical order in the office (yes, i am serious), a coworker who likes to listen to music at just audible levels, and utter lack of infrastructure in what is colloquially referred to as a 'resource poor' working environment.
in many ways, it is a great opportunity and a position that i can shape into my own and define as i go. but it will also involve a lot of ambiguity and a certain degree of risk. a bit like being the underdog and it could go either way, really.
i am happy for the chance to get involved in some potentially interesting project development and the flexibility that comes when you do not have a long term contract, which means i can still take my upcoming birthday trip to ghana, head home for a visit in march, and decide my own working hours.
maybe my independent spirit and no-nonsense manner of thinking about the development game will be pleased with this arrangement. or maybe my love for organisation, planning, and preparations will be driven mad with the lack of clarity or clearly defined boundaries and roles.
only time will tell in this instance. like many before and certainly many more to come.
Showing posts with label development?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label development?. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
eat what you kill
i know i am going to sound like i’m whining, but getting up
at 6am with an alarm clock on a monday morning is tough! and driving (well, being a
passenger) for 6 hours of rural roads in liberia is also a
challenge. and i am going to blame
the latter on my nap takeover when i finally got home this evening...
the purpose for the early start and travelling was that i
had a job interview to work in a company’s corporate social
responsibility/community investment department. well, to essentially BE the csr department. while there were moments where i was tempted, i know the role is not for me.
after discussions today, i confirmed what i already
suspected – that i didn’t move all the way to liberia to work 10 hours a day 6
days a week while living away from my boyfriend (i still think that ‘partner’
sounds so lame). although the
worksite is not geographically that far away from monrovia, the road conditions
make it a bit of a trek and the company’s rather restrictive policies would
make it difficult to get back to the capital city with any regularity.
but it was still so interesting to see a new part of the
country with the driver they sent to collect me and to see how a foreign
company operates and attempts to have a lasting positive impact on the
communities where they operate.
there were a few red flags in their programming (they directly support
local orphanages), but it seemed like it would be a challenging and rewarding
position, but it just won’t be the one for me.
which is ok as i have another job lined up as of last
week and it will allow me to ease back into the world of international
development with the organisation i used to work for in kenya. and with the mentality of ‘eat what you
kill’ in fund raising and project development, it might also be challenging and
rewarding, but for very different reasons.
i have committed to something of a trial period and i am
banking on previous healthy working relationships and familiarity with the
organisation and the content to lend itself to success. i am
not so sure that i am ready to give up my weekday workouts, leisurely morning coffees,
and flexible schedule. but it
could all be worthwhile simply to have regular fast internet at the office!
above all, in the big, bad world of international development,
having work experience to show for my time in liberia will be beneficial and it
will aid in making the big life decisions that are on the horizon. but if we decide to stay in monrovia, i am getting a kitten! and he is orange! and he was just a week old when i met him and hadn't yet opened his eyes!
Friday, January 20, 2012
neighbours
(january 13, 2012)
i am openly critical of people who visit a country on
holiday and return home needing to do something about the poverty that they
likely witnessed from their safari mobile or while on their wander through a
capital city or rural area.
i don’t doubt people’s motives or believe that they don’t
mean well in deciding to take up donations of used clothing to ship overseas or
want to start their own foundation to put girls through school, but the reality
is that what is witnessed on a two week vacation is not going to be easily
fixed by starting a new ngo or from someone naively adopting a community or
individual as their personal cause.
however, these same values have been challenged
recently. first, when i was put on
the spot to explain why stopping our safari mobile on the side of the road in
rural tanzania to give away our football to a stranger was a bad idea hidden by
the good hearts and intentions of family members. trying to explain that by picking out a child from the side
of the road to give away a prized football could cause them and others to
expect or hope that future vehicles travelling by with foreign faces will also
deposit footballs. and the last
thing that is needed is more children hanging around roads waiting for gifts to
come. it would also make more
sense to have the football donated to a school that could ensure it was
available to more children to play with. and to give the ball to the teacher in front of the students
to prevent it from going missing or being taken out of the school.
luckily, we came up with a creative solution that didn’t
make me look like a total asshole and included giving the ball away to a local
tourism company that we were travelling with that has developed a sport and
education programme in a village near their safari lodge that we had recently
stayed at. but it was interesting
to see that as soon as there was effort involved in finding the office, a shop
that sold a pump and other items to include with the ball, and dropping it all
off, the interest in ‘doing good’ decreased, probably because the ‘problem’ was
now no longer in front of our eyes.
another challenge has come whenever i walk out of my house
to head into town. my street is
optimistically called 3rd street, but it is really a dirt alleyway
without a street sign and you wouldn’t be blamed if you drove right by it on the
main street (which happens rather regularly with delivery drivers…). on the same street where i live in
relative luxury is a house that was clearly bombed and/or burned during the
civil wars. and now a few families
are living as squatters in the property without electricity or running water.
on the other side of my house is a similar beachfront lot
with a house that was once undoubtedly a gem on the coastline, but now is a
skeleton of what it once was. and again,
it is occupied by a family with a newborn that sometimes wakes me up in the
early morning hours, our houses are so close to one another.
and i can appreciate how those same people who come to a
place like liberia and are overcome with the poverty and want to do something
to remedy such an ethical wrong would also look at the disparity that exists
right on my street. and part of me
just wants to give the kids that i see, having their daily baths or playing in
their backyard that is cordoned off with pieces of scrap metal, whatever change
i have in my pocket because i know a few liberian dollars will go much further
for them than for me.
but, i also realize that just as giving away a football on
the side of the road, my few liberian dollars are not going to overcome the
systemic challenges facing a country and its people still rebuilding after
devastating civil wars. and because
someone before me has clearly given something away on my street, i am regularly
asked for ‘a chocolate’ or ‘a dollar’ or ‘a pen’ by the kids.
instead, i do what i can and purchase local produce and
support the small enterprises in my neighbourhood and the greater city of monrovia. in fact, i am now looking for a good
tailor to make something out of all the fabric i have collected!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
csr, what is it good for?
absolutely nothing? not quite.
i come at this topic from a potentially unique perspective - i have an academic and professional background in international development, but have spent the last 3 years working in the field that can broadly be described as corporate social responsibility (csr) with an oil and gas company. and i have to say, the two worlds are not as far apart as one would think.
the last few years have certainly taught me that csr, like development and humanitarian aid, is a diverse field with some fantastic ideas and programmes and a whole lot of crappy ideas and a handful of people who think CSR IS GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD.
while i certainly don't see the pillars of a good csr strategy as a panacea to the world's problems, i don't think that for-profit organisations are anything to be feared and can 'do good' while also making money.
and here's a few ways: demanding clean supply chains, hiring local people and contractors, investing in local talent development, supporting established organisations through donations and sponsorships (commonly called 'community investment'), ensuring a safe and healthy worksite for current employees, and minimising the amount of environmental damage or degradation its operations cause.
to be clear, i don't think that a company does, or necessarily should, do these things out of the goodness of their hearts. i think there are a lot of intrinsic motivators for businesses to implement effective csr strategies, including enhancing local services and recreation to attract the best staff. to improve the talent pool from which they will draw now and in the future (essentially, capacity building in the development sense) by supporting education facilities and programmes. to improve value for their shareholders (however value is described) by demonstrating they are a sustainable enterprise. to build morale within the companies and appealing to their staff who want to work at a responsible company.
true, companies can leverage their csr initiatives for marketing and to build their reputation with potential customers, and those motivations all seem relatively clear, but i think that csr is too often written off because this is seen as its only purpose.
csr can be done horribly wrong and i would argue, some companies who think they should get into the world of csr don't think strategically or consider it a professional field that comes with years of research, analysis, successes, and failures. too often, a seemingly 'good cause' is supported through writing a giant cheque or volunteers are sent out for the photo opportunity, with little concern for what impact (positive, negative, or null) it will have.
in fact, the company that i work for has a csr situation gone sideways. they wanted to improve water and sanitation in a community where they operate and figured they could work with a un agency (because if csr can't save the world, the un will!). their intentions, unsurprisingly, were good and everyone had that warm, fuzzy feeling that doesn't come often for a bunch of engineers working in an extractive industry.
but those good intentions were not enough. the project is years overdue, has suffered from high-level turnover at both organisations, and has not had the intended positive effects that everyone had hoped. in hindsight, i think they realise they bit off more than they could chew and were ill informed with how the un functions (or does not) and what happens when you improve social services in one village and not the rest (surprise, people migrate!).
and why? because in this case, the company is not an expert in water and sanitation projects in this particular country. had they hired someone who was, they may have found that in this case, writing a giant cheque would've been more beneficial.
in other words, csr decisions and strategies should be taken seriously and addressed by professionals, not just those who want to go home from work feeling good (which is similar to Milton Friedman's argument that a business behaves ethically by turning a profit), but often are not seen as important enough to dedicate sufficient people and resources. csr costs companies money, it does not earn companies money. and i think that as long as that is understood and accepted, csr initiatives have a better chance at success.
and writing this is incredibly self serving as i find myself at a crossroads where i could continue on the csr career path or i could turn back to the world i once knew and work internationally with a humanitarian/development programme. i am not convinced that either will be a perfect fit for me and each comes with challenges and frustrations, but i do believe there is a role for each in meaningful and effective socioeconomic development and humanitarian aid, internationally and locally.
i come at this topic from a potentially unique perspective - i have an academic and professional background in international development, but have spent the last 3 years working in the field that can broadly be described as corporate social responsibility (csr) with an oil and gas company. and i have to say, the two worlds are not as far apart as one would think.
the last few years have certainly taught me that csr, like development and humanitarian aid, is a diverse field with some fantastic ideas and programmes and a whole lot of crappy ideas and a handful of people who think CSR IS GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD.
while i certainly don't see the pillars of a good csr strategy as a panacea to the world's problems, i don't think that for-profit organisations are anything to be feared and can 'do good' while also making money.
and here's a few ways: demanding clean supply chains, hiring local people and contractors, investing in local talent development, supporting established organisations through donations and sponsorships (commonly called 'community investment'), ensuring a safe and healthy worksite for current employees, and minimising the amount of environmental damage or degradation its operations cause.
to be clear, i don't think that a company does, or necessarily should, do these things out of the goodness of their hearts. i think there are a lot of intrinsic motivators for businesses to implement effective csr strategies, including enhancing local services and recreation to attract the best staff. to improve the talent pool from which they will draw now and in the future (essentially, capacity building in the development sense) by supporting education facilities and programmes. to improve value for their shareholders (however value is described) by demonstrating they are a sustainable enterprise. to build morale within the companies and appealing to their staff who want to work at a responsible company.
true, companies can leverage their csr initiatives for marketing and to build their reputation with potential customers, and those motivations all seem relatively clear, but i think that csr is too often written off because this is seen as its only purpose.
csr can be done horribly wrong and i would argue, some companies who think they should get into the world of csr don't think strategically or consider it a professional field that comes with years of research, analysis, successes, and failures. too often, a seemingly 'good cause' is supported through writing a giant cheque or volunteers are sent out for the photo opportunity, with little concern for what impact (positive, negative, or null) it will have.
in fact, the company that i work for has a csr situation gone sideways. they wanted to improve water and sanitation in a community where they operate and figured they could work with a un agency (because if csr can't save the world, the un will!). their intentions, unsurprisingly, were good and everyone had that warm, fuzzy feeling that doesn't come often for a bunch of engineers working in an extractive industry.
but those good intentions were not enough. the project is years overdue, has suffered from high-level turnover at both organisations, and has not had the intended positive effects that everyone had hoped. in hindsight, i think they realise they bit off more than they could chew and were ill informed with how the un functions (or does not) and what happens when you improve social services in one village and not the rest (surprise, people migrate!).
and why? because in this case, the company is not an expert in water and sanitation projects in this particular country. had they hired someone who was, they may have found that in this case, writing a giant cheque would've been more beneficial.
in other words, csr decisions and strategies should be taken seriously and addressed by professionals, not just those who want to go home from work feeling good (which is similar to Milton Friedman's argument that a business behaves ethically by turning a profit), but often are not seen as important enough to dedicate sufficient people and resources. csr costs companies money, it does not earn companies money. and i think that as long as that is understood and accepted, csr initiatives have a better chance at success.
and writing this is incredibly self serving as i find myself at a crossroads where i could continue on the csr career path or i could turn back to the world i once knew and work internationally with a humanitarian/development programme. i am not convinced that either will be a perfect fit for me and each comes with challenges and frustrations, but i do believe there is a role for each in meaningful and effective socioeconomic development and humanitarian aid, internationally and locally.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
watch this space (and that one over there, too)
it appears that my return to blogging has coincided nicely with a new initiative of j at tales from the hood (a blog that you should be reading if you want to learn anything about international development and humanitarian aid). check out the details of his Aid Blog Forum and participate if you have anything to say.
the first topic up for discussion is Corporate Social Responsibility. this also happens to be the field i have been working in for 3 years so i am just working through some thoughts in hopes of coming up with something coherent. by tomorrow because there is also a DEADLINE. and if you want to get my to do anything, the way forward is to give me a DEADLINE so i can procrastinate my way towards it and ultimately, get it done.
also, i am really sick of looking at this blog's design and am sort of sick of having the word 'blogspot' in its title. must think on that too.
(seems my return to blogging has taken the 'then i had a pb&j sandwich for lunch and then i had a really hot coffee and then...' format. will work on that.)
the first topic up for discussion is Corporate Social Responsibility. this also happens to be the field i have been working in for 3 years so i am just working through some thoughts in hopes of coming up with something coherent. by tomorrow because there is also a DEADLINE. and if you want to get my to do anything, the way forward is to give me a DEADLINE so i can procrastinate my way towards it and ultimately, get it done.
also, i am really sick of looking at this blog's design and am sort of sick of having the word 'blogspot' in its title. must think on that too.
(seems my return to blogging has taken the 'then i had a pb&j sandwich for lunch and then i had a really hot coffee and then...' format. will work on that.)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
a trio of ted talks
i have been battling a head cold/self-diagnosed chest infection (that my mom is worried might be pneumonia or bronchitis) since friday, but i did manage to rally and go to a girls' christmas potluck, a 3rd annual 29th birthday party, a bridal shower, a hen night, and a family christmas dinner.
i am pretty sure that all that activity over the weekend has meant that i didn't have enough in the tank to fend off whatever is ailing me and i stayed at home and took a sick day today. that meant i had a lot of internet time and came up with a few beauties that i thought i would share.
let's talk parenting taboos: rufus griscom & alisa volkman
although i am not a parent, i can only imagine the anxiety that having to take of a baby and then a child to raise would invoke in me. and part of that is because there are so many messages, and i would argue most of them directed at women specifically, about what parenting should look and feel like. and i think these two do a good job of blowing that myth out of the water while speaking frankly about their experiences as encouragement for others to do the same. it is all about being real and it sounds like parenting is no different.
an independent diplomat: carne ross
once you get past his introduction, which sounds a little self indulgent, this former british foreign service officer has a great message and i liked what he had to say about how the best things that happen to him were 'random.'
his ngo independent diplomat is innovative and responding to the ever evolving world order, which are not words you would ever use to describe the traditional diplomatic corps. his message lends itself well to my own experience of having exposure to the private sector to improve my performance and analysis within the non-profit sector. and i wish more people saw the value of that cross pollination of ideas and principles and it seems that ross does.
and i agree with him entirely on his statement: 'the government of south sudan, you heard it here first, is going to be a new country in the next few years' and that he can make the connection between you and i and el shabaab, the somali militia organisation. the world is shrinking and as it changes, the tool, agencies, and systems that we have used to make sense of it all also need to evolve at the same speed. and the un is sadly lagging behind the innovators and great thinkers.
and to think, i went through many years of international relations and international development organisation asking who western sahara belongs to and here, the answer is on ted.
now... where is my cliff to fall off??
and this one takes the ted cake today - michael spector: the danger of science denial
one of my passions is learning and this paired with my commitment to social justice and socioeconomic development lends itself nicely to questioning what we know (or think we know) and then applying the scientific method to learn more about it to improve. in a practical sense, this means that how we think we are helping can and should be examined, but rarely is. doing good seems to be acceptable because it is accepted that charity or development or donations are good in and of themselves. spector has the guts to say that attitude is wrong.
pseudo science and anecdotal information has taken over our collective knowledge retention and transfer. and it is scary what can happen when we dismiss scientific evidence and confuse correlation and causation (and all those social science kids out there are likely nodding their heads along with spector throughout his talk). we have more access to information than ever before and on one hand, i think that this radical democratic style of information sharing makes for a more dynamic and diverse conversation, but on the other hand, more crappy ideas, bad science, and misinformation is also shared in equal measure, if not more.
here's are some truths that spektor highlights that science has demonstrated to us time and time again:
this was a breath of fresh air for someone who often feels as though they are fighting against more people within the non-profit/development/charitable giving sector than outside of it to demonstrate not all international development projects are good, not all non-profit agencies deserve people's donations of time and money, and giving is not always better than receiving.
i am pretty sure that all that activity over the weekend has meant that i didn't have enough in the tank to fend off whatever is ailing me and i stayed at home and took a sick day today. that meant i had a lot of internet time and came up with a few beauties that i thought i would share.
let's talk parenting taboos: rufus griscom & alisa volkman
although i am not a parent, i can only imagine the anxiety that having to take of a baby and then a child to raise would invoke in me. and part of that is because there are so many messages, and i would argue most of them directed at women specifically, about what parenting should look and feel like. and i think these two do a good job of blowing that myth out of the water while speaking frankly about their experiences as encouragement for others to do the same. it is all about being real and it sounds like parenting is no different.
an independent diplomat: carne ross
once you get past his introduction, which sounds a little self indulgent, this former british foreign service officer has a great message and i liked what he had to say about how the best things that happen to him were 'random.'
his ngo independent diplomat is innovative and responding to the ever evolving world order, which are not words you would ever use to describe the traditional diplomatic corps. his message lends itself well to my own experience of having exposure to the private sector to improve my performance and analysis within the non-profit sector. and i wish more people saw the value of that cross pollination of ideas and principles and it seems that ross does.
and i agree with him entirely on his statement: 'the government of south sudan, you heard it here first, is going to be a new country in the next few years' and that he can make the connection between you and i and el shabaab, the somali militia organisation. the world is shrinking and as it changes, the tool, agencies, and systems that we have used to make sense of it all also need to evolve at the same speed. and the un is sadly lagging behind the innovators and great thinkers.
and to think, i went through many years of international relations and international development organisation asking who western sahara belongs to and here, the answer is on ted.
now... where is my cliff to fall off??
and this one takes the ted cake today - michael spector: the danger of science denial
one of my passions is learning and this paired with my commitment to social justice and socioeconomic development lends itself nicely to questioning what we know (or think we know) and then applying the scientific method to learn more about it to improve. in a practical sense, this means that how we think we are helping can and should be examined, but rarely is. doing good seems to be acceptable because it is accepted that charity or development or donations are good in and of themselves. spector has the guts to say that attitude is wrong.
pseudo science and anecdotal information has taken over our collective knowledge retention and transfer. and it is scary what can happen when we dismiss scientific evidence and confuse correlation and causation (and all those social science kids out there are likely nodding their heads along with spector throughout his talk). we have more access to information than ever before and on one hand, i think that this radical democratic style of information sharing makes for a more dynamic and diverse conversation, but on the other hand, more crappy ideas, bad science, and misinformation is also shared in equal measure, if not more.
here's are some truths that spektor highlights that science has demonstrated to us time and time again:
- vaccines don't cause autism
- vitamins won't make you healthier
- all of our food has been genetically engineered to look, taste, and smell the way it does
- organic food is a rip off
- by not embracing scientific advancement in food production, we won't be able to feed all the people on the planet
this was a breath of fresh air for someone who often feels as though they are fighting against more people within the non-profit/development/charitable giving sector than outside of it to demonstrate not all international development projects are good, not all non-profit agencies deserve people's donations of time and money, and giving is not always better than receiving.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
questions i have asked myself recently
- will anyone know that it was me that set the fire alarm off at 11:15pm by cooking beef bourguinon? followed a few days later with: who the hell is cooking at 2am and set the damn fire alarm off when i was sleeping?!
- what does a life coach do and do i need one?
- how do you pay a speeding ticket that you seem to have lost?
- who would ever buy this or this?
- what do i want to be when i grow up?
- what will i feed my dad for 5 days when he stays with me?
- will i be selected to attend a gbv training in new york city? and, please pick me (which is not really a question, but i am just putting it out there).
- will i be able to get a taxi after tonight's christmas party?
- should i put a pair of flats in my purse in case my feet start to hurt?
- if i bring a pair of flats but still manage to fall on someone's boss' table, can i really blame my sore feet and high heels for it if i am wearing flats?
- why don't i know many eligible bachelors in this city to set my amazing female friends up with?
- how will i decorate my office/spare bedroom now that i have a sofa bed?
- is Last Christmas by Wham! the best christmas song ever? (the answer is yes).
- should i keep my bangs down or swept to the side? should i stop cutting them myself?
- how do i stop people from wanting to start their own ngos to combat human trafficking in cambodia? (i am taking suggestions on this one).
- why do i have a blog and why haven't i been writing much lately?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
cringe ready
i am mildly dreading the series premier of abc's new show Off The Map. i anticipate it being full of assumptions about americans living abroad doing meaningful, heartwarming, humanitarian work in a "third world country," as their trailer describes.
its claim is to be about a group of young, dynamic doctors who set up a clinic in a non-descript, generic south american jungle village where they are going to practice medicine in a resource constrained environment.
i will watch it, but i expect to be cringing a lot. at the anticipated flippant remarks about development and aid and the stereotypes of the heroic foreigners swooping in to solve the problems that locals have had for years, but were hopeless and helpless to do anything for themselves (obviously).
but maybe, just maybe i will be proven wrong and the show will dive deep into the complexities of an expat's life, why american doctors choose to follow that career path, and the moral and ethical dilemmas that the doctors will encounter.
or maybe it will be some more bubble gum for the brain where a bunch of doctors, played by attractive actors in an ensemble cast, all date one another incestuous season after incestuous season.
then again, i shouldn't expect too much from abc, the network that just sent arizona to "africa" to save the tiny (and no doubt, poor and dirty) humans.
its claim is to be about a group of young, dynamic doctors who set up a clinic in a non-descript, generic south american jungle village where they are going to practice medicine in a resource constrained environment.
i will watch it, but i expect to be cringing a lot. at the anticipated flippant remarks about development and aid and the stereotypes of the heroic foreigners swooping in to solve the problems that locals have had for years, but were hopeless and helpless to do anything for themselves (obviously).
but maybe, just maybe i will be proven wrong and the show will dive deep into the complexities of an expat's life, why american doctors choose to follow that career path, and the moral and ethical dilemmas that the doctors will encounter.
or maybe it will be some more bubble gum for the brain where a bunch of doctors, played by attractive actors in an ensemble cast, all date one another incestuous season after incestuous season.
then again, i shouldn't expect too much from abc, the network that just sent arizona to "africa" to save the tiny (and no doubt, poor and dirty) humans.
Monday, November 15, 2010
read it
the guardian has done a good job explaining why you and her and me shouldn't go to africa to volunteer.
clear, concise, and straight to the point.
now, maybe i can reference this when i decide to bring up my opinions on voluntourism to orphanages at breakfast parties and am met with blinking eyes and cold stares.
clear, concise, and straight to the point.
now, maybe i can reference this when i decide to bring up my opinions on voluntourism to orphanages at breakfast parties and am met with blinking eyes and cold stares.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
leading the charge
this week has been another busy one for me, but one i have really enjoyed. i am not sure what happened in the last week, but i have newfound motivation, inspiration, and excitement about my work. it might have come with the recognition i received from the avenue magazine, but where ever it came from, i have run with it this week.
one of the new things that i have added to my plate, sort of inadvertently, is to lead the charge to get the company i work for to stop supporting the operation christmas child programme of samaritan's purse. it bugged me last year and it bugged me again this year. i found out that there were a few others at work who are also concerned about this, so i have a meeting next week and i just have to remember not to step on anyone's toes and have my ducks in a row before i go in there.
so, here are my ducks.
we state that we will not financially support religious organisations and this is not only a faith based organisations, but is an organisation that openly and proudly evangelizes and proselytizes. the campaign consists of filling shoeboxes with small gifts of books, toys, candy, and hygiene products, which the organisation claims are needed. essentially, we fill boxes with crap and send it overseas. and in the process, we enlarge our environmental footprint, flood a local market with stuff that could likely be locally sourced (and thereby, stimulate the economy), and export our values and perspective of mass consumerism during the holidays.
it is the typical and useless, quite likely harmful, practice of giving gifts-in-kind in a method that is complete donor driven and riddled with our own wishes rather than the wishes and expressed needs of the people we are intending to "help."
how does that sound?
there is more information on a website that has been developed to draw attention to these issues: www.pursestrings.ca
and alternatively, i need to come up with a few other options of how people can get involved in both domestic and international projects at christmas. ideas??
one of the new things that i have added to my plate, sort of inadvertently, is to lead the charge to get the company i work for to stop supporting the operation christmas child programme of samaritan's purse. it bugged me last year and it bugged me again this year. i found out that there were a few others at work who are also concerned about this, so i have a meeting next week and i just have to remember not to step on anyone's toes and have my ducks in a row before i go in there.
so, here are my ducks.
we state that we will not financially support religious organisations and this is not only a faith based organisations, but is an organisation that openly and proudly evangelizes and proselytizes. the campaign consists of filling shoeboxes with small gifts of books, toys, candy, and hygiene products, which the organisation claims are needed. essentially, we fill boxes with crap and send it overseas. and in the process, we enlarge our environmental footprint, flood a local market with stuff that could likely be locally sourced (and thereby, stimulate the economy), and export our values and perspective of mass consumerism during the holidays.
it is the typical and useless, quite likely harmful, practice of giving gifts-in-kind in a method that is complete donor driven and riddled with our own wishes rather than the wishes and expressed needs of the people we are intending to "help."
how does that sound?
there is more information on a website that has been developed to draw attention to these issues: www.pursestrings.ca
and alternatively, i need to come up with a few other options of how people can get involved in both domestic and international projects at christmas. ideas??
Thursday, October 07, 2010
i liked it, so should you
my laptop battery is dying and as i await the room delivery of the converter that i need to charge it, i leave you with this, an absolute must read for anyone who wants the skinny on why those billions of dollars have been held up by the us senate that were earmarked for haiti reconstruction.
and (bonus!) there is a great little bit on why the word 'orphanage' should give you a rash.
http://laurenist.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/in-which-i-ask-lady-gaga-to-help-raise-1-15-billion-for-haiti/
and (bonus!) there is a great little bit on why the word 'orphanage' should give you a rash.
http://laurenist.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/in-which-i-ask-lady-gaga-to-help-raise-1-15-billion-for-haiti/
Monday, September 06, 2010
six months in sudan
for someone who is mildly obsessed with trying to figure out if international humanitarian assistance or foreign aid makes a positive impact on the lives of those in developing countries, i found almost refreshing to read a book that describes one individual's attempt to achieve what all humanitarians set out to do - improve the lives of others.
whether james maskalyk is successful in his humanitarian quest is secondary to his telling of his six months in sudan, which is also the name of the book, and i am glad that he did not spent his words or pages delving into the academic discussions of how aid should be delivered and what the challenges are for those working in a dynamic and ever shrinking humanitarian space in conflict zones.
instead, you get a honest, heartfelt, angry, and genuine telling of maskalyk's experience of volunteering with medicins sans frontieres in abyei, sudan where there was a simple hospital, small staff and countless challenges and barriers, but he and the msf team, like countless other similar teams active throughout the world, overcome what they can and accept what they cannot change. but if only it were that simple - to understand the beauty of the struggle and the celebration of the successes, you will have to read the book.
i have never worked in a environment as resource constrained or isolated as abyei, but i do know what it is like to question what you are doing, if it is working the way it was intended, and the pain in the ass that is internal organisational politics and i am not sure how, but maskalyk articulated it all so well. there were certainly parts that were difficult to read and i had to put the book down a few times (sometimes to take a few breaths because he doesn't hold back on the medical details...), but the story is one of a young canadian doctor who wishes to do what he can to improve the health of those he could in a village in the contested borderland area of sudan.
read it. you won't be disappointed.
whether james maskalyk is successful in his humanitarian quest is secondary to his telling of his six months in sudan, which is also the name of the book, and i am glad that he did not spent his words or pages delving into the academic discussions of how aid should be delivered and what the challenges are for those working in a dynamic and ever shrinking humanitarian space in conflict zones.
instead, you get a honest, heartfelt, angry, and genuine telling of maskalyk's experience of volunteering with medicins sans frontieres in abyei, sudan where there was a simple hospital, small staff and countless challenges and barriers, but he and the msf team, like countless other similar teams active throughout the world, overcome what they can and accept what they cannot change. but if only it were that simple - to understand the beauty of the struggle and the celebration of the successes, you will have to read the book.
i have never worked in a environment as resource constrained or isolated as abyei, but i do know what it is like to question what you are doing, if it is working the way it was intended, and the pain in the ass that is internal organisational politics and i am not sure how, but maskalyk articulated it all so well. there were certainly parts that were difficult to read and i had to put the book down a few times (sometimes to take a few breaths because he doesn't hold back on the medical details...), but the story is one of a young canadian doctor who wishes to do what he can to improve the health of those he could in a village in the contested borderland area of sudan.
read it. you won't be disappointed.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
ted talk recommendations
i have spent my morning cleaning, doing laundry, ironing, and listening to ted talks, which is such a wonderful website about 'ideas worth sharing' and if you have not already taken a perusal through their wonderful videoed lectures (there is an iphone application too for when i am at work!), here are a few talks that struck a nerve or a chord with me this morning, take a look if you have some free time.
***
i have never been a fan of wwf, but its vp who deals with corporate social responsibility and sustainability makes a number of good connections and conclusions about third party verifications, the challenges of putting the decision on sustainable consumption on the consumer, and highlights some success stories of how changes have been made in industries without our even knowing.
i recently went to a lecture by alan knight of the virgin group (of richard branson fame) around third party verification in the forestry industry and what the oilsands of alberta can learn from that experience. and this was a really nice compliment to that information and is something, to a very brief degree, contend with in my day job.
jason clay: how big brands can help save biodiversity
***
steve jobs gave a commencement address at stanford in 2005 and i absolutely love his message and the story of how he got his start and then kept moving. i did not realise that he was an adopted child and that he had been publicly fired from apple years ago. moving and inspiring and a great reminder not to dwell on negative even if it is difficult to suspend judgement in the moment. (and something i direly need to be reminded of in 2010.)
steve jobs: how to live before you die
***
new york senator diane j savino makes the case for the legalisation of same sex marriage and while i don't necessarily agree with her perspective that even same sex couples should have the right to be as miserable as everyone else as i believe that it doesn't matter what the result of a marriage, all consenting adults should have access to the institution (although i do understand that this line of argumentation might be a line that resonates the best with those whose opinions in the senate she was attempting to influence), i completely agree with her take on the role of government in marriage in a democratic state.
diane j savino: the case for same sex marriage
***
two people speak about choice and they both have really valuable insight into how western developed countries can be improved and deteriorated by the powers associated with choice.
malcolm gladwell speaks to an audience about how to ask the question of what people want in different ways to get more accurate information with the intent of keeping people happy by offering them more choice.
malcolm gladwell: spaghetti sauce
alternatively, and more to my line of thinking on this concept, is barry schwartz who wrote a book entitled the paradox of choice, which i have been meaning to read for years. he speaks to the idea that the more choices we have, the less satisfied we are with the selection with ultimately make. i know that this is true for me - when i go to a restaurant with a huge menu i get overwhelmed and am never happy with my final choice because what could it have been like if i picked something else. for this reason alone, i like eating at fancier restaurants who dictate the menu and refuse to allow substitutions.
schwartz connects the reduction in satisfaction with higher levels of depression and anxiety and i certainly know this is the case for me. i feel as though there is so much i could do, but where do i start and how to pick what to do? he uses the example of young people getting married and the selection of a mate, which also resonated with me for the same reasons as the lengthy menus as how we cherish and respect freedom not for what it gives us or what it can allow us to do for ourselves, but simply because freedom in and of itself is valuable. and i am not always so sure this is the case. watch it and see what he says about shifting the blame in the medical community and why we might not always be the best person to make decisions for ourselves.
barry schwartz: the paradox of choice
***
i have never been a fan of wwf, but its vp who deals with corporate social responsibility and sustainability makes a number of good connections and conclusions about third party verifications, the challenges of putting the decision on sustainable consumption on the consumer, and highlights some success stories of how changes have been made in industries without our even knowing.
i recently went to a lecture by alan knight of the virgin group (of richard branson fame) around third party verification in the forestry industry and what the oilsands of alberta can learn from that experience. and this was a really nice compliment to that information and is something, to a very brief degree, contend with in my day job.
jason clay: how big brands can help save biodiversity
***
steve jobs gave a commencement address at stanford in 2005 and i absolutely love his message and the story of how he got his start and then kept moving. i did not realise that he was an adopted child and that he had been publicly fired from apple years ago. moving and inspiring and a great reminder not to dwell on negative even if it is difficult to suspend judgement in the moment. (and something i direly need to be reminded of in 2010.)
steve jobs: how to live before you die
***
new york senator diane j savino makes the case for the legalisation of same sex marriage and while i don't necessarily agree with her perspective that even same sex couples should have the right to be as miserable as everyone else as i believe that it doesn't matter what the result of a marriage, all consenting adults should have access to the institution (although i do understand that this line of argumentation might be a line that resonates the best with those whose opinions in the senate she was attempting to influence), i completely agree with her take on the role of government in marriage in a democratic state.
diane j savino: the case for same sex marriage
***
two people speak about choice and they both have really valuable insight into how western developed countries can be improved and deteriorated by the powers associated with choice.
malcolm gladwell speaks to an audience about how to ask the question of what people want in different ways to get more accurate information with the intent of keeping people happy by offering them more choice.
malcolm gladwell: spaghetti sauce
alternatively, and more to my line of thinking on this concept, is barry schwartz who wrote a book entitled the paradox of choice, which i have been meaning to read for years. he speaks to the idea that the more choices we have, the less satisfied we are with the selection with ultimately make. i know that this is true for me - when i go to a restaurant with a huge menu i get overwhelmed and am never happy with my final choice because what could it have been like if i picked something else. for this reason alone, i like eating at fancier restaurants who dictate the menu and refuse to allow substitutions.
schwartz connects the reduction in satisfaction with higher levels of depression and anxiety and i certainly know this is the case for me. i feel as though there is so much i could do, but where do i start and how to pick what to do? he uses the example of young people getting married and the selection of a mate, which also resonated with me for the same reasons as the lengthy menus as how we cherish and respect freedom not for what it gives us or what it can allow us to do for ourselves, but simply because freedom in and of itself is valuable. and i am not always so sure this is the case. watch it and see what he says about shifting the blame in the medical community and why we might not always be the best person to make decisions for ourselves.
barry schwartz: the paradox of choice
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
slum tourism is not for everyone, in fact, it shouldn't be for anyone
Jina Moore has highlighted an op-ed in the new york times by Kennedy Odede, who grew up in kibera, which is potentially the largest slum in africa located smack in the middle of nairobi, my former home.
i think anyone considered any type of voluntourism should read this piece. to the point, eloquent, honest, and a great voice on why you take a piece of people's dignity when you travel through their home to 'understand poverty.'
i have been to kibera. i didn't spend much time there and would never claim to understand the community nor why exactly my work took me there, but i did see foreigners wandering around with their cameras out and i heard on local radio (through my rough understanding of kiswahili and my colleague's helpful translation) that there is a running joke that kibera residents are like zoo animals as the visitors pass by, looking at them from an arm's length and taking photos to bring home.
for anyone interested in life in kibera, Uwem Akpan has an excellent short story about a family in kibera in his book Say You're One of Them.
for anyone interested in life in kibera, Uwem Akpan has an excellent short story about a family in kibera in his book Say You're One of Them.
Friday, July 30, 2010
mish mash on a friday afternoon
in perusing my regular blogs (over there on the left), i found a link to a vso study on why the images of poor, starving ethiopians during the live aid campaign have caused negative implications in the stereotype of africans. now, this is not revolutionary in idea, but it is good to see research collected on the lasting impacts of that media campaign. after a full read, i do think the research is biased in that it is totally poo-pooing on the media and on western views of developing countries while also saying that we have so much to learn from them (which may, or may not, be true, but it seems a bit cheeky to push that so much towards the end of the report when that wasn't the stated focus of the research). but, it is worth a read.
and i should send it to the next person who tells me they want to go to africa to volunteer in an orphanage.
in other news, i have found a travel partner to join me in south africa, my mom! yay. i am even more excited about this trip now! so much to sort out before then, but lots of time to do it. should we visit the wineries, should we go to the district six museum, should we go up table mountain, should we go to simons point for breakfast and to see the penguins, should we visit my friends in the townships???
and speaking of trips, i am all packed and ready to go for the juan de fuca trail... i have two sets of insoles for my hiking boots in hopes that one of them will avoid my crying due to foot pain and i bringing along a bottle of extra strength advil, which seem to do the trick.
i just need to pop out and see if i can find some 2nd skin and then i am off to victoria! eek.
and i should send it to the next person who tells me they want to go to africa to volunteer in an orphanage.
in other news, i have found a travel partner to join me in south africa, my mom! yay. i am even more excited about this trip now! so much to sort out before then, but lots of time to do it. should we visit the wineries, should we go to the district six museum, should we go up table mountain, should we go to simons point for breakfast and to see the penguins, should we visit my friends in the townships???
and speaking of trips, i am all packed and ready to go for the juan de fuca trail... i have two sets of insoles for my hiking boots in hopes that one of them will avoid my crying due to foot pain and i bringing along a bottle of extra strength advil, which seem to do the trick.
i just need to pop out and see if i can find some 2nd skin and then i am off to victoria! eek.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
knowing a thing or two
hello. and welcome. to the hundreds of people who have passed by my corner of the internet these past couple days. i suppose i should have had this message up before, well, now. but instead all those newcomers to my blog, thanks to a rather kind link from flotsam, see me whining about my life and being in a funk...
but (but!) here i am, trying not to be wah-wah-wahing for once in a bit of a while.
what a day i had. it started off with a message that my slow cooker had arrived and was ready for pick up. and a day that starts off like that is bound to be a good one. what is better is that my slow cooker was free (remember that laptop i bought? i put it on my credit card and earned enough points to order a slow cooker!) and that it matches the rest of my kitchen appliances, which pleases my obsessive sensibilities.
i began my workday at noon (because i can!) and headed to a townhall meeting with some of the executive of our company and was thrilled that some of my work was not only mentioned in the quarterly update, but praised as good company practice.
but that is not all. i was mildly dreading heading to yet another meeting with an organisation that i volunteer with after my shortened workday, but was again pleasantly surprised to find that i was regarded as an expert and advisor to a locally based international foundation. this was all well and good, however, until i had a one-on-one conversation about an upcoming initiative that i not-so-affectionately called voluntourism-lite.
the same qualities of voluntourism are apparent: the focus put on the travellers' experience, no lasting impact or clear outputs of the visit, short term stays in communities, and time and energy put out by the host organisation that is likely motivated by a desire to show that they really are a great organisation doing really good work (a sort of self preservation and marketing to the foreign visitors).
i got in quite a heated discussion about this and i just kept coming back to the question of why? why is this happening? to try and head off those who would otherwise seek out a true voluntourism experience and offer them something a little less corrupt and possibly more meaningful? but that is not what a foundation should be doing. a bad idea remains a bad idea.
and why is it so hard for people to accept my opinion that if you want to go to africa, go on a wicked vacation full of beaches, safaris, museums, and sights? there is no requirement that you visit a slum, an orphanage, or a hospital to make it worthwhile. we don't expect tourists to canada to visit our poorest communities or our underdeveloped first nations reserves so why do we expect canadians to do similar things on their holidays abroad? and doesn't this continue to perpetuate the same stereotypes that africa is nothing but a continent full of dirty, black kids with flies around their eyes? and (and!) offering such a programme doesn't acknowledge that many middle and upper class residents of africans don't feel compelled to visit those communities in their backyard, so why would canadians? and, more than anything, what right do they have to go sniffing around in someone else's backyard? and again, for what purpose?
eesh. the whole conversation just made me want to bang my head against a wall. but (but!), it did make me feel good in the sense that i actually know a thing or two about this and i felt strong enough in my opinions to express them and stand by them. and that i can make some things better, just by being a part of them even if they frustrate me at times.
and that, along with today's positive feedback, has made me feel as though the wobbly moment might almost (dare i say it?!) be coming to a close.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
29 + 4 update
ever since i decided to stop moping, things have really taken a turn for the better.
and in some random hope that the power of positive thinking actually might work, i just wanted to let the interwebs know that i have asked for something that i want as per goal #9.
i found a job i want. i found a job that could potentially meld my education and international experience in development with my nearly two years' worth of private sector corporate social responsibility knowledge! i found a job i want in new york city.
so i applied.
and if you are so compelled, join me in sending some positive energy in the direction of the un headquarters in nyc in hopes that they overlook my lack of the requisite 8 years of progressively responsible experience and interview me based on my ballsy cover letter and unique skill set!
and in some random hope that the power of positive thinking actually might work, i just wanted to let the interwebs know that i have asked for something that i want as per goal #9.
i found a job i want. i found a job that could potentially meld my education and international experience in development with my nearly two years' worth of private sector corporate social responsibility knowledge! i found a job i want in new york city.
so i applied.
and if you are so compelled, join me in sending some positive energy in the direction of the un headquarters in nyc in hopes that they overlook my lack of the requisite 8 years of progressively responsible experience and interview me based on my ballsy cover letter and unique skill set!
Monday, May 31, 2010
do gooding as gospel
when i was 18, i dated a fellow who was five years my senior and who i thought knew a thing or two about life. i recall vividly one conversation we had where he told me that of all the people he meets, he only really 'liked' 20% of them enough to want to be friends or see again. in my youthful naivety, i recall feeling as though that was a very callous statement to make.
and now, at the ripe old age of 29, i feel that 20% was a truly conservative estimate and the proportion of the people i meet who i genuinely want to see again socially is somewhere near 10%.
i brought this up at a brunch i was with four other ladies this weekend and in our discussions, we agreed that as we become more certain of what we believe and our own values, it makes it easier to make decisions about people and this is completely natural . and sometimes, you meet people whose activities or comments tip you off to the fact that you likely will not get along.
my friend, an animal lover and vegetarian, said that she couldn't be friends with someone who hunted. there was a general mmm-hmmm-ing about this. i followed up with the statement, 'i don't think i could be friends with someone who told me they wanted to volunteer in an orphanage in africa.'
the response?
blink. blink. blink, blink.
and then i had to defend my comment and give a brief explanation of why volunteering in orphanages in africa is more often than not, a bad idea.
the blog world that i am haphazardly a part of has done a great job recently, and perhaps due to the overwhelming response and criticism of aid to haiti, of describing why voluntourism and orphanages as industry is not a terribly great idea and i won't go into the details here.* but what was really apparent through this exchange was how i felt i needed to justify my statement and opinion to people who had relatively low levels of knowledge on international development and aid because i felt as though i sounded so cold hearted and heartless.
i spent the better part of the rest of the brunch trying to convince them that a) i knew what i was talking about and b) that i am not a horrible, awful person who thinks that the poor, black babies of africa do not deserve our good intentions. and to be honest, i am really not sure that i was that effective.
it was one of those situations where worlds collide and i was going through the rolodex of posts i have read over the past months in shaping my argument about why holding the value against volunteering at orphanages in africa is not so different that holding a value that includes believing that hunting is wrong.
i like what Tales From the Hood has to say about why we believe that we have the 'right' to help others and the intentions behind doing it. and Good Intentions Are Not Enough often has posts that support the name of the blog. and these are written by professionals in the aid and development community so i know i am not alone in my judgements and opinions. and this also doesn't mean they are necessarily the gospel for all to live by, but it was a tough situation to be in and i wish i had a better arsenal of metaphorical weapons to use when confronted to defend why i believe what i do.
* if you are really interested in my thoughts on this, leave me a comment and i will try and string them together into something articulate in the future.
and now, at the ripe old age of 29, i feel that 20% was a truly conservative estimate and the proportion of the people i meet who i genuinely want to see again socially is somewhere near 10%.
i brought this up at a brunch i was with four other ladies this weekend and in our discussions, we agreed that as we become more certain of what we believe and our own values, it makes it easier to make decisions about people and this is completely natural . and sometimes, you meet people whose activities or comments tip you off to the fact that you likely will not get along.
my friend, an animal lover and vegetarian, said that she couldn't be friends with someone who hunted. there was a general mmm-hmmm-ing about this. i followed up with the statement, 'i don't think i could be friends with someone who told me they wanted to volunteer in an orphanage in africa.'
the response?
blink. blink. blink, blink.
and then i had to defend my comment and give a brief explanation of why volunteering in orphanages in africa is more often than not, a bad idea.
the blog world that i am haphazardly a part of has done a great job recently, and perhaps due to the overwhelming response and criticism of aid to haiti, of describing why voluntourism and orphanages as industry is not a terribly great idea and i won't go into the details here.* but what was really apparent through this exchange was how i felt i needed to justify my statement and opinion to people who had relatively low levels of knowledge on international development and aid because i felt as though i sounded so cold hearted and heartless.
i spent the better part of the rest of the brunch trying to convince them that a) i knew what i was talking about and b) that i am not a horrible, awful person who thinks that the poor, black babies of africa do not deserve our good intentions. and to be honest, i am really not sure that i was that effective.
it was one of those situations where worlds collide and i was going through the rolodex of posts i have read over the past months in shaping my argument about why holding the value against volunteering at orphanages in africa is not so different that holding a value that includes believing that hunting is wrong.
i like what Tales From the Hood has to say about why we believe that we have the 'right' to help others and the intentions behind doing it. and Good Intentions Are Not Enough often has posts that support the name of the blog. and these are written by professionals in the aid and development community so i know i am not alone in my judgements and opinions. and this also doesn't mean they are necessarily the gospel for all to live by, but it was a tough situation to be in and i wish i had a better arsenal of metaphorical weapons to use when confronted to defend why i believe what i do.
* if you are really interested in my thoughts on this, leave me a comment and i will try and string them together into something articulate in the future.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
the Do Something conundrum
sometimes, world's collide.
lately, i have really been struggling with people who want to get involved in addressing human trafficking and want to volunteer with my organisation. often, it starts off with an unsolicited email requesting more information from me or an offer to take me for lunch or coffee to discuss how they can get involved.
let me offer a full disclosure here and say that volunteer management is not my strong suit.
if i spent time responded to each email (which i do) and sitting down with each person (which i don't), i would be spending all of my time, which is already suffering from competing priorities, explaining the same things to people and convincing them not to start another ngo, not to screen the same film that has been shown in this city 4 times in the last 6 months, and not to go busting down doors and conducting their own investigations.
i believe that i have sorted this dilemma by asking volunteers to organisation a volunteer information session where i will cover all of these things in a group setting and figure out what people can offer our organisation and how we can best use their skills and passion. but what is interesting is that i feel as i am struggling with an issue that is being felt across the development sector board.
case in point:
i recently commented on a development-focused blog, Tales From the Hood, about why someone who calls themself an Aid Worker must defend and define that to other people and yet we all accept someone's answer of Doctor when asked, what do you do? and i know that the whole concept of Aid Worker is a misunderstood and misrepresented one, but the jist of the original post seems to link well to what i have been struggling with lately. in a nutshell, some american dude had an idea to collect 1 million t shirts in the states and distribute them to africans. this is a bad idea. i won't go into the details of why this is a bad idea here, but you can browse through the blogs i have listed on this page for a lot more information on why this is a Bad Idea.
the linkage is this: why is it that simply because someone wants to do a good thing do they seem to feel as they have a right to? i am the first to admit, i don't know the answer to this question.
but the people who want to Do Something sometimes feel that just wanting to do that something is enough to justify their actions. and sometimes, wonderful and innovative ideas can come from this, but often, bad ideas are pushed forwarded and supported simply because isn't it great that so-and-so is doing something!
what i find interesting about all of this is that people who come to me wanting to get involved locally (which i sincerely think is great) on trafficking-related issues and how do you harness that enthusiasm and energy to make their doing something into doing something meaningful and worthwhile?
i am still working through this and luckily, i have some experienced people around me to bounce ideas off and to support me to think of creative solutions to this dilemma, but i think at its root, it is the same challenge felt when bad development ideas are supported and implemented simply because someone feels they have the right to Do Something.
and maybe they do?
lately, i have really been struggling with people who want to get involved in addressing human trafficking and want to volunteer with my organisation. often, it starts off with an unsolicited email requesting more information from me or an offer to take me for lunch or coffee to discuss how they can get involved.
let me offer a full disclosure here and say that volunteer management is not my strong suit.
if i spent time responded to each email (which i do) and sitting down with each person (which i don't), i would be spending all of my time, which is already suffering from competing priorities, explaining the same things to people and convincing them not to start another ngo, not to screen the same film that has been shown in this city 4 times in the last 6 months, and not to go busting down doors and conducting their own investigations.
i believe that i have sorted this dilemma by asking volunteers to organisation a volunteer information session where i will cover all of these things in a group setting and figure out what people can offer our organisation and how we can best use their skills and passion. but what is interesting is that i feel as i am struggling with an issue that is being felt across the development sector board.
case in point:
i recently commented on a development-focused blog, Tales From the Hood, about why someone who calls themself an Aid Worker must defend and define that to other people and yet we all accept someone's answer of Doctor when asked, what do you do? and i know that the whole concept of Aid Worker is a misunderstood and misrepresented one, but the jist of the original post seems to link well to what i have been struggling with lately. in a nutshell, some american dude had an idea to collect 1 million t shirts in the states and distribute them to africans. this is a bad idea. i won't go into the details of why this is a bad idea here, but you can browse through the blogs i have listed on this page for a lot more information on why this is a Bad Idea.
the linkage is this: why is it that simply because someone wants to do a good thing do they seem to feel as they have a right to? i am the first to admit, i don't know the answer to this question.
but the people who want to Do Something sometimes feel that just wanting to do that something is enough to justify their actions. and sometimes, wonderful and innovative ideas can come from this, but often, bad ideas are pushed forwarded and supported simply because isn't it great that so-and-so is doing something!
what i find interesting about all of this is that people who come to me wanting to get involved locally (which i sincerely think is great) on trafficking-related issues and how do you harness that enthusiasm and energy to make their doing something into doing something meaningful and worthwhile?
i am still working through this and luckily, i have some experienced people around me to bounce ideas off and to support me to think of creative solutions to this dilemma, but i think at its root, it is the same challenge felt when bad development ideas are supported and implemented simply because someone feels they have the right to Do Something.
and maybe they do?
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