Microcredit evangelism is a familiar story for our industry: An idea that, after all, can produce some modest changes in the life of poor people (cash flow smoothing, confidence building, etc.) but that really works well only in some circumstances, is carried off by hype and urgency, offered as much more than it really is, and applied everywhere. As it grows it is inevitably caught up in the decades-old incentive structure of the development aid industry - people and institutions are rewarded for mobilizing and moving money, and for acting on the mistaken notion that the way to solve poverty is to go directly to the poor themselves. Since the 1970s, time and again our industry trades- in complex and contextual approaches to development (institutional, legal, governance, and other reforms) for bandaid solutions that produce at best marginal changes, but satisfy the need to be perceived as "doing something for the poor." Again, the question needs to be asked: Is the goal to ease the pain or to cure the disease?
If you're interested in St Judes School in Arusha, Tanzania, visit;
http://www.schoolofstjude.co.tz/
And I encourage you to do so. It is a great school, doing great things.
Again, donate if you can, but I encouage you to visit. It is a wonderful thing and is very good for Africa and the world.
Olga referred me to a great site showing about an organisation doing great work in developing countries.
They generate finance and work to run projects that are sustainable as well as helpful to solving community challenges.
Here is a link to the web site I built for Tanzanian Capital Boosting Association in Africa. They do Microfinance and grants to businesses and HIV/AIDS widows in Arusha, Tanzania.
OK, this has nothing to do with Africa. Read below this posting....
This is a poem chosen by Sarah from VIA and I'm guessing it sums up how she feels as her time is drawing to a close in Africa.
If you want to be high, be high!
If you want to be free, be free.
There’s a million ways to be,
you know that there are!
~Cat Stevens
This is my choice;
You Don't Know Me
Jann Arden
You give your hand to me
And then you say hello
And I can hardly speak
My heart is beating so
And anyone can tell
You think you know me well
But you don't know me
No you don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night
And longs to kiss your lips
Longs to hold you tight
Oh I am just a friend
That's all I've ever been
Cause you don't know me
You give your hand to me
And then you say goodbye
I watch you walk away beside the lucky guy
Oh you will never know
The one who loves you so
Well you don't know me
You give your hand to me
And then you say goodbye
I watch you walk away beside the lucky guy
Oh you will never know
The one who loves you so
Cause you don't know me
Oh no you don't know me
OOhh...you don't know me
What do you think? What would you pick? A poem or a song. Write one yourself?
While I was in Arusha, Tanzania, Africa, I worked on a program to create a student loan facility for adult vocational training called Loans for Learning. I created a web site for it with information etc. I'd appreciate any comments and feedback.
Hi, I haven't written on this blog for a while since i've actually left Africa. But I do intend to update it with some of my journal (physical- crazy I know!) entries when I get back to the sunburnt country.
Again, I invite anyone else who has volunteered in Africa or anywhere to send me postings.
Be right back........
All of the views currently on this site are from one volunteer (me) who had a limited experience in Africa (only four months). I would really like to add to this site by getting more perspectives on these and more topics.
Just add a comment by clicking the link below, include your email address and I will get in touch with you.
Some of the topics I'll try and work on but would love contributions from you on;
Just some ideas.
Here are some good books that I've read whilst in Africa.
"Africa: A biography of the continent." - Paul Reader.
A really interesting book covering everything from tectonic plates, to development of fire, to slavery and colonialism. It is also very readable. About 675 pages, but I've loved every page.
Dark Star Safari - Paul Theroux.
Paul travels from Cairo to Cape Town. Lots of
great adwentures and interesting perspectives from someone who has been in Africa 30 years before and has a fresh look at it. He is not very positive about the work of aid programs, but I think his view is worth listening to.
True at First Light - Earnest Hemingway.
An interesting ramble about his own experience in Africa as a hunter with one of his wifes. It is quite imperialist in it's nature, but interesting nonetheless.