of love, life and living it up
Sunday, April 23, 2006
responsible charity
the I.B diploma programme requires that students do community service in order to complete the programme. as much as it was compulsory, weekly visits to hospitals, childrens homes/centres and retirement homes ended up having a very positive impact on those involved. most people i know who were involved are now more aware that a little goes a long way as far as charity is concerned. it helps you know that whatever ails society is our problem not just 'theirs'.
there is only one incident that left a bad taste in my mouth. on our way to the childrens' ward in kenyatta hospital one afternoon one of the teachers decided that it would be a good idea to go to the HIV ward so that we could see for ourselves the perils of AIDS. not to talk to the patients or not to keep them company mind you, just to walk through the ward and be "enlightened". there was a small crowd of people who refused to go, some because they were scared, others because they didn't want to cut short random stories and others (myself included) because it just didn't feel right. all i could think of is what if it was me lying on that bed having people talk at me and about me like i was on display at a museum before they quickly moved on?
the teacher was attempting to use the shock and awe tactic that alot of people seem to think works when it comes to education about anything from religion to sex education to politics. they most probably figure that if they frighten enough people they'll get their point across which almost never works because fear eventually dissipates and people continue with their lives. but back to my point.
i have this great professor who introduced me to the concept of responsible charity. he always says that 'if you are going to give, be responsible about it." if you are going to help in anyway, be it in giving your time, money or possesions do your homework. research, ask those in question what they need and most importantly, work with the community not for them. do a follow up to ensure that whatever you did has not been unravelled. in other words, take a geniune interest and be open to suggestions.
before you think that this is just another post that has been doused in hippie fairy dust, think about it. how many people give only over christmas and forget that people don't have clothes the rest of the year and not much food to eat? how many people just give money and don't follow up on how it was spent? there are those who only give blood when they hear there is a shortage or when a family member is in need, volunteer at places without actually getting to know the people and interract only when there is a photo-op immenent. there are some for who volunteering = satisfying their already inflated egos. they have done something for mankind, and how or why they did it shouldn't matter, right? (okay, there is a bit of fairy dust on it, but none of the hippie kind)
all this came to mind when i was chatting to a friend over IM and she told me that kenya seems to be the popular destination for budding philanthropists and wanna be do gooders out for photo ops. apparently lindsey lohan is planning a trip to kenya to visit schools and hospitals. right. hot on the heels of a dozen other celebrities who do these charity visits to africa to "see" the poverty and scourge of HIV for themselves.
i have nothing against people ([alleged]celebrities or not) who want to help out. but i do have something against those who come in the name of charity to disparage the very community they are so "concerned" about. case in point, alicia keys. private visit? not over here. her PR manager milked this pilgrimage to motherland for all it was worth and there were pictures, feature stories everywhere i looked. kenyan journalists were kept away by body guards and the rest of her entourage. enough said.
the ongoing pimping of africa (which is spoken of in vague terms by the way, like it is an area that has no borders or identifiable countries) has been going on for ages. i am tired of "celebrities" coming to see for themselves what all the fuss is about and of NGO's using pictures of dreary looking places and people in the press and t.v adverts to solicit for money is sometimes misppropriated. i am bored by all the stories about how the places they visited were in dire straits but the people had so much life, especially coming from people who only went to sightsee and not much else. i am irritated by the people living in and around the communities who will not take time out to do something other than tsk, tsk! at the t.v and newspapers and complain when the "outsiders get it wrong."
there is a difference between highlighting the disasters that go on and using them as an ends to a means, be it money that will eventually be lost in an administrative maze or an attempt to stay relevant to your fan base. it is all well and good to want to be charitable and volunteer or donate money/ your time but there is a very thin line between self servitude and responsible charity. it's not all about you or them, its about us.
it should be a challenge for us who live in the communities and countries which charity tourists frequent when the need arises. give up one saturday that you would have spent drinking and watching football to do something useful like going to coach football. use the money that you would have used for nyama choma or cake to feed someone who barely has enough food to eat on a day to day basis. and remember that helping those who are less blessed than we are is not like an itch that you scratch and forget about, its an ongoing process. be responsible about it, that way you can call out the "outsiders" who get it wrong.
there is only one incident that left a bad taste in my mouth. on our way to the childrens' ward in kenyatta hospital one afternoon one of the teachers decided that it would be a good idea to go to the HIV ward so that we could see for ourselves the perils of AIDS. not to talk to the patients or not to keep them company mind you, just to walk through the ward and be "enlightened". there was a small crowd of people who refused to go, some because they were scared, others because they didn't want to cut short random stories and others (myself included) because it just didn't feel right. all i could think of is what if it was me lying on that bed having people talk at me and about me like i was on display at a museum before they quickly moved on?
the teacher was attempting to use the shock and awe tactic that alot of people seem to think works when it comes to education about anything from religion to sex education to politics. they most probably figure that if they frighten enough people they'll get their point across which almost never works because fear eventually dissipates and people continue with their lives. but back to my point.
i have this great professor who introduced me to the concept of responsible charity. he always says that 'if you are going to give, be responsible about it." if you are going to help in anyway, be it in giving your time, money or possesions do your homework. research, ask those in question what they need and most importantly, work with the community not for them. do a follow up to ensure that whatever you did has not been unravelled. in other words, take a geniune interest and be open to suggestions.
before you think that this is just another post that has been doused in hippie fairy dust, think about it. how many people give only over christmas and forget that people don't have clothes the rest of the year and not much food to eat? how many people just give money and don't follow up on how it was spent? there are those who only give blood when they hear there is a shortage or when a family member is in need, volunteer at places without actually getting to know the people and interract only when there is a photo-op immenent. there are some for who volunteering = satisfying their already inflated egos. they have done something for mankind, and how or why they did it shouldn't matter, right? (okay, there is a bit of fairy dust on it, but none of the hippie kind)
all this came to mind when i was chatting to a friend over IM and she told me that kenya seems to be the popular destination for budding philanthropists and wanna be do gooders out for photo ops. apparently lindsey lohan is planning a trip to kenya to visit schools and hospitals. right. hot on the heels of a dozen other celebrities who do these charity visits to africa to "see" the poverty and scourge of HIV for themselves.
i have nothing against people ([alleged]celebrities or not) who want to help out. but i do have something against those who come in the name of charity to disparage the very community they are so "concerned" about. case in point, alicia keys. private visit? not over here. her PR manager milked this pilgrimage to motherland for all it was worth and there were pictures, feature stories everywhere i looked. kenyan journalists were kept away by body guards and the rest of her entourage. enough said.
the ongoing pimping of africa (which is spoken of in vague terms by the way, like it is an area that has no borders or identifiable countries) has been going on for ages. i am tired of "celebrities" coming to see for themselves what all the fuss is about and of NGO's using pictures of dreary looking places and people in the press and t.v adverts to solicit for money is sometimes misppropriated. i am bored by all the stories about how the places they visited were in dire straits but the people had so much life, especially coming from people who only went to sightsee and not much else. i am irritated by the people living in and around the communities who will not take time out to do something other than tsk, tsk! at the t.v and newspapers and complain when the "outsiders get it wrong."
there is a difference between highlighting the disasters that go on and using them as an ends to a means, be it money that will eventually be lost in an administrative maze or an attempt to stay relevant to your fan base. it is all well and good to want to be charitable and volunteer or donate money/ your time but there is a very thin line between self servitude and responsible charity. it's not all about you or them, its about us.
it should be a challenge for us who live in the communities and countries which charity tourists frequent when the need arises. give up one saturday that you would have spent drinking and watching football to do something useful like going to coach football. use the money that you would have used for nyama choma or cake to feed someone who barely has enough food to eat on a day to day basis. and remember that helping those who are less blessed than we are is not like an itch that you scratch and forget about, its an ongoing process. be responsible about it, that way you can call out the "outsiders" who get it wrong.
20 Comments:
In the context of Westerners helping Africans, I think the notion of responsible charity is what differentiates it from that other form of charity that resembles neo-colonialism.
I remember one of my fellow English volunteers said " I don't do developing countries" This was at the start of her placement in Central America. It turned out that her real motivation was to see Mayan ruins and the whole voluntary thing was a 'by the way'. According to her the people of Central America needed her anyway so she may as well do some good work while travelling.
Not to knock the valuable work that she did; I couldn't help but feel that her placement should have been given to someone who actually cared about the people she was working with. No-one in that country needed her more than they needed anyone else.
As for the shock tactics - hah! Every New Year they launch these Quit Smoking tv ads. Every yearthey attempt to show, in increasingly graphic details, the effects of smoking. I am sure I am not the only smoker who quickly changes channels.
Great post!
@ mjy
some people are mannerless enough to believe that they are some sort of saviour (and i'm talking super hero,divine like manifestations) when it comes to volunteering and this defeats the whole purpose in my view.
as for your fellow volunteer, it makes me sad, because she wuold have gotten alot more out of it if she was not there for the sights (dare i add her to my category of charity tourists?)
i am one of those that change the channel! they usually don't work, and it makes me sad that kenyans are still trying to scare the do's and dont's of sex. when will we ever learn?
thanks for your insight on charity that resembles neo-colonialism, you put into words what i was thinking!
I totally agree...too many times people do good things for all the wrong reasons. I agree it doesnt take much. I cannot afford to give a million euros, but I can afford to give my time, my empathy, forego my lunch for one day. Thats something I.B taught as well. There are so many ways to help. But we do have to do it responsibly. Great post.
Charity has been used by many as PR. This is something you can talk about until the cows come home.
Nice read.
And Alicia yaani she just left the country in a huff after promising to address journalists
Charity thing sweetie has been used as a tour as I have money thing and words to help poor developing countries.
I know a certain group of charity guys from UK but since they came each weekend is either Mara, Lamu and all that.
As for Alicia Funguo she just portrayed what they think of Africans as thieves what was to be stolen from her ama ni macho kubwa she bored me to death with the body guards wuuuiii they were hovering people like Kitale maize..
Ama we had ukoma kama Naamani in the Bible and we couls spread it..
Tight post gal.
Hit me for mshene..
Brilliant post!! Lindsay is going to Kenya right after Jessica Simpson went and Drew Barrymore went, and you just know they are only in it for the publicity. The whole "humanitarian industry" practices some really shameful tactics, and really it undermines the citiizens of these African countries when outsiders (NGOs, The World Bank, etc.) have such an influence in the government. Westerners need to let Africa be, all this meddling is only making things worse!
That said, charity is a noble value but yes, I wish people would focus on giving responsibly so their the dollars will be efficiently spent. And mostly, what people need are JOBS, if the West wants to help Arica they should buy their goods/products and participate on the economic level. Free trade, education, access to medical care--these are the tools for alleviating poverty. Charity is often only a band-aid solution.
@ nyas
thats what most people dont get, that it doesn't take much, you don't have to be rich or connected. all it takes is time and effort and doing it well not all willy nilly. thanks!
@ shiro
pics of alicia in "africa" (seamless place with no borders) are still all over the place over here. i was soooooo disturbed, considering how she snubbed journalists back home. uselessness i tell you
@ nakeel
alicia funguo's entourage hovering like kitale maize? LOL! LMAO! wewe mischana you are too funny. ati they acted like we had ukoma? washindwe kabisa!
thanks for the mushene *wink, wink* you know poi and i are waiting for part two, right? cool!
@ crystal
jessica simpson was there? and drew barrymore? ah well, they aren't considered real celebrities back home anyhow, there's no celeb mania in kenya like there is here in the states.
i agree with you, charity is only a short term solution sometimes, especially in the context you speak of. thanks for passing by!
@ poi
do you have some sort of juju? i keep trying to post a reply lakini blogger has thrown a tantrum!
i so feel you, sometimes i read feature articles and look at pix and watch t.v and i'm like what the f**k? they act like they are jesus, sliced bread and captain planet (si me i think he is the coolest superhero ever) all rolled into one. i especially hate how they talk at us and about us but never with us, and you gave one f the main reasons why.
hit me up when you do the volunteer thing so that we can be responsible together
@poi
i can't let a couple of deformed letters win - i can read, i know i can! and stop with the blogger juju, it's unfair! lovely week to you too poi
Greetings SpiceBear. I found you through Crystal's blog Wide Open Wonder.
I really appreciated your post on charity, and your thoughts about how to help communities in ways that are both meaningful and productive. Many would do well to hear your words and take them to heart. Thank you for your thoughts.
@ jlb
thank you for your kind words and for stopping by. feel free to do so any time and add your thoughts to the discussion.
I like your view on responsible charity. Keep plugging it. It makes our world a better place.
@ time rice
thanks for stopping by and for your making your presence known :-D i look foward to some insight from you
This is a nice post I must admit!Yes ppl who do charity for the PR suck!Someone once said that if there was no media coverage even those companies in Kenya would do jack for the poor!At the end of the day mingi of these celebs who come just mouth of and do photo ops for their own journalists.There is another star who came and when she was at the animal orphanage the cops exposed the film of all the wanainchi who took photos of her.
As for people like Alicia Keys who go to Kenya and dont bother to learn jack and even associate with the people and spend most of the time in their 5 star hotel and with their crew.Stay in America!We dont need you.
These people should be agitating for better economic policies for 3rd world countries and good governance.
As for holiday volunteeers they can take their back packs and shove them up their white asses!Reminds me of those fools who come to Kenya ati to spread the gospel.Spread the gospel in your damn heathen countries and convert all the gays,lesbians and wiccans.We have our own missionaries and our own brand of christianity.I dressed down another mama here about that mpaka she almost cried.I am sick of these stupid well meaning white people who leave things even worse then they found them!
Had to get that off my chest
damn aco, si you are back in my comment section with a bang :-D
i have an issue with the govt which bend over backwards to accomodate everyone who comes to the point of silliness sometimes. i just wish instead of being star struck and blinded by dollar signs they would identify the ones who are really beneficial as opposed to those you are on a PR trip. all it takes is a little common sense and some research. if we were to give special v.i.p treatment to everyone who came in the name on charity ... heh! god forbid.
i do have to disagree with you about holiday volunteers - its part of being a global citizen and all that and when done responsibly it can help alot. and believe me, getting kenyans to do some of these things is sadly an uphill task, some would rather be living it up rather than holding it down.
as for encounters with missionaries ... you too? lol, came across one during one of my sojourns and she made the mistake of assuming that i am a ditz who giggles too much. we discussed logistics with her but she stuck to her guns. i hope she thought about it though.
i just wish more kenyans and africans would be willing to help out, since they are part of the community it's easier to work it from that angle. then when others get it wrong we can help them along the path.
(haiya , si this is like a whole other post, lol!)
@ spicebear
I am not against the volunteers who are here to actually do stuff.The ones I am against are the ones who spend more time in MAra and the Coast while on the ngo's dole.
But when it comes to missionary work Kenyans can handle our own stuff, those white folks should put away their David Livingstone aspirations!
As far as charity and the stars are concerned, it's those who actually keep their profiles low about what charity work they're doing that actually get my vote of confidence. Because it's not about them, it's about the people they're trying to help (or animals or wahtever.)
Which brings me to another point, why not do charity within their own countries, I'm not saying that we could do without it, but how long are Kenyan's going to be the whipping boy to make some other nation, some other person, save ourselves feel better?
What's up with that? mhmmm...off to put my thinking cap on, will be back later.
@ stunuh
you do bring up a valid point - there are some (emphasis on some) volunteers who only do international gigs and no work whatsoever at home ... this also applies to kenyans who make no effort at home but are always overseas and vice versa.
i just wish more kenyans would step up and do the responsible thing instead of assuming that red cross and the n.g.o's will pick up all the slack, it would make a whole world of difference.
Hi there spicebear, longtime no hear. Hope you are well.
Hit me if you get some time. Have a polite day.
Iddn't know you could write like that. Well done. Great post.
Most of those companies dong charitable things are actually on guilt trips. If you treat your employees well, not damage the environment and manufacture useful things would you need to blow your own trumpet? Your good name would speak for itself.
Recently I ran into a missionary from Korea whose mission was to convert me having discovered God some 5 years earlier.
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