Good Intentions Are Not Enough

How to get involved in aid

I've had two requests recently to provide information on how to develop quality international aid programs and have been invited to speak on making a difference at a college volunteer center. These requests are not surprising given the popularity of Three Cups of Tea, the desire to have a job that makes a difference, increased mobility, and the use social responsibility projects in corporate advertising. Individuals forming their own aid agencies have become so common that one in three aid agencies providing tsunami relief in Thailand were started after the tsunami, most with founders having no previous experience in aid. 

With the charitable giving season upon us, this is a good time for a series on how to make a difference.

Interesting posts and articles - Oct. 15 - 21

Interesting blog posts and articles from the previous week.

Isn't it ironic

In Thailand before the influx of missionaries and other foreigners most children went around naked until puberty and after that young women wore only a sarong around their waist. In many rural villages today old women still go around with just a bra for a top. 

A Thai joke about the transition to more modest clothing goes like this; A young woman is was walking down a dirt road when a missionary yells "You're indecent, cover your breasts" frightened the young woman pulls up the bottom of her sarong to cover her bare chest, exposing her naked bottom.

Today young rural Thai women dress very modestly. If shorts are worn at all they're very long, shirts have sleeves, necklines are high. This standard of modesty meant that some of the clothing donated after the tsunami was too indecent for them to wear.

Ironic isn't it, first we import modesty standards then we import immodest clothing.

The Allure of the Quick Fix

This is an edited version of an earlier post.

"Hit the ground running"

As a Crisis Corps Volunteer (part of the US Peace Corps) I was sent back to Thailand to help with the tsunami recovery efforts. In six months time I was to; determine needs, develop a program, find funding and resources, implement the program, and ensure that it was sustainable. All of this had to be completed on time - there would be no extensions. 

Here is the press release:

"The three resource development volunteers will be working with local governments to determine where the greatest need lies and identifying resources to help the local communities. They will also put together a local staff to insure progress will continue after the Crisis Corps team departs.

How long would it take to develop a program that solves a problem in your own community?

Imagine if a stranger were sent to your community from an aid agency boasting that they were going to solve a community problem. How would your community react and how long would it take for that stranger to be successful?

Interesting articles and posts - Nov. 8 - 14

Asia: Breastfeeding more crucial in emergencies - IRIN - Looks at problems caused by donated formula after a disaster and the difficulty of stopping baby formula donations when so many actors are involved in disaster relief

Malawi: HIV drugs used to ferment local gin - AfricaNews - Reports on a practice of using HIV drugs to speed up the fermenting process of gin.

Mobile Applications Development: Observations - Build it Kenny and they will come - Lists factors to keep in mind when developing mobile applications, good advice for any aid project.

Confusion on Where Money Lent via Kiva Goes - New York Times - Looks at the recent Kiva controversy

Interesting articles and blogs - Nov. 1 - 7

A round up of interesting news articles and blog posts from the past week.

If they don't provide information in writing - don't give

The phone solicitation

I received a phone solicitation today from an organization informing me that they will be in my neighborhood next week collecting used clothes and household goods for their organization. I'm always wary of phone solicitations because often when you give to them a percentage of what you give goes to the company contracted to do the phone solicitations. If you like the organization it's always best to go directly to their website to give so that your entire donation goes to that organization.