"Not everything we carry is a burden, nor is all we put down a loss."
(Andy Rayner)
Showing posts with label My Life Stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Life Stuff. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Methods Fail
The most encouraging read on community development/poverty reduction in years.
Refreshing is not often a word I use for such books. But this Book is REFRESHING!
Finally a voice offering some practical solutions, instead of only analyzing what poverty is etc.
It seems like we "DEFINE" poverty more than we "DESTROY" poverty these days.
For profit, poverty reduction to the bottom billion- Ingenious!
Why is hundreds of billions doing little for the bottom billion on the planet? Why, despite hundreds of billions are there 140 million MORE poor in West Africa?
A MUST READ!
Comments specific to Polak's - Drip Irrigation for 1/4 acre or less plots.
What other technology can one offer to help a family for up to 5 years on a $6 to $15 investment? We discovered drip irrigation three years ago and have set up test sites in three West African countries. I almost cried when I stumbled on the concept, it was so simple, economical; the best way to help poor people period. We felt alone in drip projects, as very few heard of small drip irrigation, and even less seemed interested. But we know it works amazingly. Now that we discovered Paul's book, we don't feel so alone, and have been encouraged.
We need Local suppliers in every country of West Africa willing to market, as Polak writes, to the $1 a day or less people, realizing volume sales will come quickly. We cannot continue to order and ship supplies as individual NGO's or organizations, for our own purposes. It's wasting time, money, and resources.
Every backpacker, tourist and visitor to Africa & Asia should take a small drip kit in their back pack, to install for a local families they know. 2 hours up and running, and it fits in your hands.
A must read.
Indigo Link
Amazon.ca
Refreshing is not often a word I use for such books. But this Book is REFRESHING!
Finally a voice offering some practical solutions, instead of only analyzing what poverty is etc.
It seems like we "DEFINE" poverty more than we "DESTROY" poverty these days.
For profit, poverty reduction to the bottom billion- Ingenious!
Why is hundreds of billions doing little for the bottom billion on the planet? Why, despite hundreds of billions are there 140 million MORE poor in West Africa?
A MUST READ!
Comments specific to Polak's - Drip Irrigation for 1/4 acre or less plots.
What other technology can one offer to help a family for up to 5 years on a $6 to $15 investment? We discovered drip irrigation three years ago and have set up test sites in three West African countries. I almost cried when I stumbled on the concept, it was so simple, economical; the best way to help poor people period. We felt alone in drip projects, as very few heard of small drip irrigation, and even less seemed interested. But we know it works amazingly. Now that we discovered Paul's book, we don't feel so alone, and have been encouraged.
We need Local suppliers in every country of West Africa willing to market, as Polak writes, to the $1 a day or less people, realizing volume sales will come quickly. We cannot continue to order and ship supplies as individual NGO's or organizations, for our own purposes. It's wasting time, money, and resources.
Every backpacker, tourist and visitor to Africa & Asia should take a small drip kit in their back pack, to install for a local families they know. 2 hours up and running, and it fits in your hands.
A must read.
Indigo Link
Amazon.ca
Friday, February 19, 2010
God Complex & Poverty. Serving FROM a Place of Brokenness, Not only IN a place of Brokenness.
When involved in community development among the poor, one encounters the colossal unaddressed need surrounding the people we love. It is easy to slip into the mentality that we are the only people offering a solution. Eventually we can begin to feel that the future of these people rests on my shoulders, with the success or failure of this single program. That is an immense burden we are met meant to support.
We are not the only solution, but merely a small part. This place, these people are suffering from the affects of brokenness. Broken political, religious, social & economic structures & worldviews that impede family access to resources, or from seeing the opportunities before them.
My son Ted found this out while in Africa this past year. One day we were walking back from our 4th meeting with a poor family and he said on the way, "Dad, it should not be this difficult to help people". This was after four visits with an impoverished man & his family, each discussion consisted of the head of the family giving reasons why the irrigation would never work for them, even though it was free for the trying. What? Yep, broken systems not only prevent access to resources, but also prevent people from seeing, and seizing potential opportunities for advancement. We deal with both in Africa all the time.
We often come serving with the attitude that we are not broken and come from a place of “Fixed-ness”. This is the God complex that, in the end harms the people, and frustrates the aide or development servant, as well as the local people. It subtly communicates to the locals that they are incapable, debilitated, have little to offer themselves. With us, we also subtlety begin to think "They are lucky to have me! Where would they be without me?" Locals begin to believe that the only solutions are from outside – from those "fixed" people, from those “fixed” places.
We have truly lost sight of our place AMONG the people, and permitted them to place us OVER the people. The greatest resource is always the local people, first. Within and among we must work.
It is of critical importance that we remember that we too come to serve as a broken people. Our countries of origin are broken also. Places like Haiti & numerous African or Asian nations are indeed broken, but we Canadians & Americans are not broken….. right?
Haiti has voodoo, we have ramped materialism. The richest people on earth, with the greatest resources, yet, with the greatest debt to. We spend most of our money on things, entertainment junk, and sacrifice little for others in the world. We will not, no refuse to live simply. We deserve, demand, and expect our comfortable things, and in the end we give little to others. But our Canadian or American brokenness is, well……………………. less broken,……….. right? Isn’t it?
In Haiti, there has been some emphasis in Christian media about how the people of Haiti are steeped in Voodoo. I hear them speak of how their government officials, long ago, at some time, made a pact with the devil for their nation. Yes, that is it, they suffer because they are more broken. We don't because we are not. Do you see the problem with such Christian statements? Yes Haiti has problems, it is suffering from brokenness. But so are we. So is our Country. We DO serve from the same platform of brokenness, it is simply manifested differently in a different place, is all.
Hopefully, we are not trying to make these people and places into little (“broken”) Canada’s or little (broken) “America’s”. Oh, my, no! We are together (The local people & ourselves) seeking to manifest a higher ideal; a true manifestation of the kingdom of God. We can’t plant that, because we don’t have it or own that seed, only God can implant the kingdom. We are simply seeking him for it, in one small village, by letting God work on us together, as we love each other, and Him too!
(Note:.... Remember we are NOT writing about “emergency disaster relief”. That supply is needed immediately, by any and every method possible. Rather, we are writing to address the process of development that assists a community in such a way that we are out of a job in the future.)
We are not the only solution, but merely a small part. This place, these people are suffering from the affects of brokenness. Broken political, religious, social & economic structures & worldviews that impede family access to resources, or from seeing the opportunities before them.
My son Ted found this out while in Africa this past year. One day we were walking back from our 4th meeting with a poor family and he said on the way, "Dad, it should not be this difficult to help people". This was after four visits with an impoverished man & his family, each discussion consisted of the head of the family giving reasons why the irrigation would never work for them, even though it was free for the trying. What? Yep, broken systems not only prevent access to resources, but also prevent people from seeing, and seizing potential opportunities for advancement. We deal with both in Africa all the time.
We often come serving with the attitude that we are not broken and come from a place of “Fixed-ness”. This is the God complex that, in the end harms the people, and frustrates the aide or development servant, as well as the local people. It subtly communicates to the locals that they are incapable, debilitated, have little to offer themselves. With us, we also subtlety begin to think "They are lucky to have me! Where would they be without me?" Locals begin to believe that the only solutions are from outside – from those "fixed" people, from those “fixed” places.
We have truly lost sight of our place AMONG the people, and permitted them to place us OVER the people. The greatest resource is always the local people, first. Within and among we must work.
It is of critical importance that we remember that we too come to serve as a broken people. Our countries of origin are broken also. Places like Haiti & numerous African or Asian nations are indeed broken, but we Canadians & Americans are not broken….. right?
Haiti has voodoo, we have ramped materialism. The richest people on earth, with the greatest resources, yet, with the greatest debt to. We spend most of our money on things, entertainment junk, and sacrifice little for others in the world. We will not, no refuse to live simply. We deserve, demand, and expect our comfortable things, and in the end we give little to others. But our Canadian or American brokenness is, well……………………. less broken,……….. right? Isn’t it?
In Haiti, there has been some emphasis in Christian media about how the people of Haiti are steeped in Voodoo. I hear them speak of how their government officials, long ago, at some time, made a pact with the devil for their nation. Yes, that is it, they suffer because they are more broken. We don't because we are not. Do you see the problem with such Christian statements? Yes Haiti has problems, it is suffering from brokenness. But so are we. So is our Country. We DO serve from the same platform of brokenness, it is simply manifested differently in a different place, is all.
Hopefully, we are not trying to make these people and places into little (“broken”) Canada’s or little (broken) “America’s”. Oh, my, no! We are together (The local people & ourselves) seeking to manifest a higher ideal; a true manifestation of the kingdom of God. We can’t plant that, because we don’t have it or own that seed, only God can implant the kingdom. We are simply seeking him for it, in one small village, by letting God work on us together, as we love each other, and Him too!
(Note:.... Remember we are NOT writing about “emergency disaster relief”. That supply is needed immediately, by any and every method possible. Rather, we are writing to address the process of development that assists a community in such a way that we are out of a job in the future.)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
It's More than a Tomato! The Real Goal of Community Development!
I was a participant in a Community Development "Webinar" yesterday (2 more to go). We were discussing the dynamics of Community Development, and analyzing what poverty really is. And of course the issues of Haiti came up.
The Session yesterday was called "When Helping Hurts" - Haiti was known world wide as the "NGO State". It had such a disproportionate number of NGO's Operating that the NGO's were actually providing most of the government services, inadvertently propping up corruption and use of resources for personal gain within government. The Government did not have to share anything with the people. - or so they think.
As a result, there was little cohesion developing in the country of Haiti. Not working through local method's & resources generally leads people to thinking we can't help ourselves in any manner, and we lack the resources to help ourselves. This is the Lie that most are not aware of. The Root Cause of Poverty is rarely, if ever, rooted in a lack of country resources. It's the brokenness of humanity manifested in broken Economic, Social, Political, and religious systems that block others from access to those resources.
These were some various ideas that came floating out of the Webinar for Development workers.
William Hickox who works for World Vision Canada comments;
"And people say to us, "Why do you want to work with the government? They're corrupt!" ... vicious circle. We try to avoid providing what we feel it's the government's responsibility to provide. Maybe we'll build a school and give the kids supplies, but the government has to pay the teachers."
Redeeming the fallen structures is part of developments long term focus. Often we simply "react" to the immediate need, which is good, but without the former you are there forever, and ever, and ever. At least World Vision focuses on "future Extraction", even though that may be elusive, and changing.
A Good Balance is the key. I have two more Sessions to go.
Our Development work is not simply irrigation. It is more than a "tomato". The resources that that "tomato" creates touches many aspects of life. That tomato's increased income represents better access to health (Money for drugs), better access to education (Money for school fees), more income for Africans to invest in the needs of their extended family (They can help family members with similar crises), more freedom to be involved in and contribute to community needs. That simple tomato affects a lot.
Anyway, most think we are "Putting in Garden Irrigation", but have no idea of the thought that is involved as to why we chose this technology, or how we see it fitting into the larger picture of changing whole communities. The end goal is our real ministry. The irrigation is just a small start to what really needs to happen, in our view. We have to work at all levels of a community to help them see the need to redeem the brokenness in patterns of thinking, action, or decision that have isolated and impoverished people.
The Session yesterday was called "When Helping Hurts" - Haiti was known world wide as the "NGO State". It had such a disproportionate number of NGO's Operating that the NGO's were actually providing most of the government services, inadvertently propping up corruption and use of resources for personal gain within government. The Government did not have to share anything with the people. - or so they think.
As a result, there was little cohesion developing in the country of Haiti. Not working through local method's & resources generally leads people to thinking we can't help ourselves in any manner, and we lack the resources to help ourselves. This is the Lie that most are not aware of. The Root Cause of Poverty is rarely, if ever, rooted in a lack of country resources. It's the brokenness of humanity manifested in broken Economic, Social, Political, and religious systems that block others from access to those resources.
These were some various ideas that came floating out of the Webinar for Development workers.
William Hickox who works for World Vision Canada comments;
"And people say to us, "Why do you want to work with the government? They're corrupt!" ... vicious circle. We try to avoid providing what we feel it's the government's responsibility to provide. Maybe we'll build a school and give the kids supplies, but the government has to pay the teachers."
Redeeming the fallen structures is part of developments long term focus. Often we simply "react" to the immediate need, which is good, but without the former you are there forever, and ever, and ever. At least World Vision focuses on "future Extraction", even though that may be elusive, and changing.
A Good Balance is the key. I have two more Sessions to go.
Our Development work is not simply irrigation. It is more than a "tomato". The resources that that "tomato" creates touches many aspects of life. That tomato's increased income represents better access to health (Money for drugs), better access to education (Money for school fees), more income for Africans to invest in the needs of their extended family (They can help family members with similar crises), more freedom to be involved in and contribute to community needs. That simple tomato affects a lot.
Anyway, most think we are "Putting in Garden Irrigation", but have no idea of the thought that is involved as to why we chose this technology, or how we see it fitting into the larger picture of changing whole communities. The end goal is our real ministry. The irrigation is just a small start to what really needs to happen, in our view. We have to work at all levels of a community to help them see the need to redeem the brokenness in patterns of thinking, action, or decision that have isolated and impoverished people.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Feeling a Bit Down Today
Just a heavy heart about a lot of things.
Hoping my Son can soon land a full-time job in Toronto. He's having a hard time to connect with a job.
Hoping my other sons Conditional acceptance to the Aircraft Turbine Repair course pulls through.
Wishing our development agency had the cash to order about 100 Irrigation kits for this Fall to install in West Africa.
Lot's of dreams and hopes in these few words.
Hoping my Son can soon land a full-time job in Toronto. He's having a hard time to connect with a job.
Hoping my other sons Conditional acceptance to the Aircraft Turbine Repair course pulls through.
Wishing our development agency had the cash to order about 100 Irrigation kits for this Fall to install in West Africa.
Lot's of dreams and hopes in these few words.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Avoid Default Living! Fishing and Preparation for Africa
Well, I recently discovered that Transport Canada has determined we require three more courses to be Captain of an inshore fishing vessel under 65 Tonnes.
So, my Bambara language study is slipping through my fingers, as some other pressing matters jump up before me, and now I have to spend several weeks in class for this training. Had to cancel a speaking engagement as a result. A bit frustrating since I had just spent two full days preparing what I was going to say.
I can't wait to get back to Africa. Some exciting changes coming in the near future as we prepare for a new Community Development Project to help with Poverty among the people we work among.
Mali, West Africa, will be our new home for the majority of time until 2012, as we learn language, and culture, customs etc. But we should have the development project is full swing by the end of 2012 and then more decisions to be made.
Our daily lives involve planning the the future. At times It seems like most of our friends wake up wondering what they will eat for breakfast, and then maybe supper, with a few events jotted on the calender, and then wonder what the will do with their weekend.
At some point in every day, seven days a week, we are discussing & planning things 2 to 5 years in advance. But we enjoy it and have weaved that mentality into our beings.
What we have discovered is that we all have a default manner of living. If one fails to intentionally plan to assist the poor in body and spirit; well, we end up living the default of our individualistic culture. Drifting in a life and making plans about "ME" and our future, with little time considering how we can improve the future of others. I don't want to live our cultural default.
Excited and a bit overwhelmed at the same time. Much to do, and yet to be done.
I can't put into words
So, my Bambara language study is slipping through my fingers, as some other pressing matters jump up before me, and now I have to spend several weeks in class for this training. Had to cancel a speaking engagement as a result. A bit frustrating since I had just spent two full days preparing what I was going to say.
I can't wait to get back to Africa. Some exciting changes coming in the near future as we prepare for a new Community Development Project to help with Poverty among the people we work among.
Mali, West Africa, will be our new home for the majority of time until 2012, as we learn language, and culture, customs etc. But we should have the development project is full swing by the end of 2012 and then more decisions to be made.
Our daily lives involve planning the the future. At times It seems like most of our friends wake up wondering what they will eat for breakfast, and then maybe supper, with a few events jotted on the calender, and then wonder what the will do with their weekend.
At some point in every day, seven days a week, we are discussing & planning things 2 to 5 years in advance. But we enjoy it and have weaved that mentality into our beings.
What we have discovered is that we all have a default manner of living. If one fails to intentionally plan to assist the poor in body and spirit; well, we end up living the default of our individualistic culture. Drifting in a life and making plans about "ME" and our future, with little time considering how we can improve the future of others. I don't want to live our cultural default.
Excited and a bit overwhelmed at the same time. Much to do, and yet to be done.
I can't put into words
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Had A Nice Relaxing Archery Day!
I know, I need to relax more. It's easy to see from this blog that I need some things to do besides work. Well I dug out my Sons Parker Wildfire XP 60 lb compound bow and slapped a few arrows in the bag. Boy that sure was relaxing. I was not in the mood for variety so just kept shooting at 30 yards. Hitting 4 inch circles too :-) Not bad for the first time out since last fall.
Anyway, it has been a long time dream of mine to Archery hunt. as a Youth I hunted and trapped avidly, walking a 7.5 mile trap-line in the woods every day, rain (snow)or shine, September to late November. Besides being good exercise, I really got to enjoy the intricacies of various terrain in the forest. Wet areas, that most avoid, are the most interesting areas. Cool fungus growths, interesting animal's, plants, and animal behavior in swampy areas.
While I was out shooting, I got to thinking how I never actually got around to ordering my own bow last spring. I went inside and check out National Archery Supply and I nabbed a sweet Bowtech Factory clear out. A 2008 Bowtech TomKat for a whopping 45% discount.
They are setting up and tuning my TomKat it to my personal specs right now. 70 lb at 29 inch draw, with a D-loop. They are tuning some custom carbon arrows in 100 grains. The TomKat shoots a whopping 318 ft per second. Anyway, can't wait for it to arrive next week.
After I ordered I had my usual guilt. All hungry children in the world issues (You know me). I spent the rest of the day figuring out how to tell Lynn. But she was gracious :-) I think she realizes hobbies get me off her back, and carrying less of the worlds problems on mine.
Anyway, it has been a life dream to do bow hunting for a deer and a moose. However, I think this fall we will try predator hunting right here on PEI for Coyote, and some grouse.
Also purchased a fletching jig and some replacement veins so my Son and I can re-fletch our carbon arrows and save some bucks.
Wish it was not raining today as I would be back out with the Parker at dinner time for a few shots again! Back to work.
Anyway, it has been a long time dream of mine to Archery hunt. as a Youth I hunted and trapped avidly, walking a 7.5 mile trap-line in the woods every day, rain (snow)or shine, September to late November. Besides being good exercise, I really got to enjoy the intricacies of various terrain in the forest. Wet areas, that most avoid, are the most interesting areas. Cool fungus growths, interesting animal's, plants, and animal behavior in swampy areas.
While I was out shooting, I got to thinking how I never actually got around to ordering my own bow last spring. I went inside and check out National Archery Supply and I nabbed a sweet Bowtech Factory clear out. A 2008 Bowtech TomKat for a whopping 45% discount.They are setting up and tuning my TomKat it to my personal specs right now. 70 lb at 29 inch draw, with a D-loop. They are tuning some custom carbon arrows in 100 grains. The TomKat shoots a whopping 318 ft per second. Anyway, can't wait for it to arrive next week.
After I ordered I had my usual guilt. All hungry children in the world issues (You know me). I spent the rest of the day figuring out how to tell Lynn. But she was gracious :-) I think she realizes hobbies get me off her back, and carrying less of the worlds problems on mine.
Anyway, it has been a life dream to do bow hunting for a deer and a moose. However, I think this fall we will try predator hunting right here on PEI for Coyote, and some grouse.
Also purchased a fletching jig and some replacement veins so my Son and I can re-fletch our carbon arrows and save some bucks.
Wish it was not raining today as I would be back out with the Parker at dinner time for a few shots again! Back to work.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
First Irrigation Installed!
Here is the first Irrigation System installed. Running off a 5 Gallon (20L) bucket. Notice the garbage around the area? Yep this is where we had to scrap out a plot to grow stuff for Hourna's family. He works hard and is a very smart man (Black T Shirt) They neighbours all came to watch and when we added water and they saw how the Drips of water worked they were pretty excited. Anyway, tomorrow we will be installing for a family who has no house. They are squatting in an open garage. They have NOTHING!'
Sunday, December 2, 2007
This Blaufway, Tu-ba-boo Will Be Home Some day!
In West Africa the Agni Kids would chant "Blauf-way" the Jula "Tu-Ba-Boo" as we entered a village or courtyard. This practice is ancient. For generations the kids were taught to shout this as a warning during the slave trade. There's "white people" here!
Now it's more of a curious interest as they shout this with a huge smile because, frankly they do not see many white people in these rural forest villages. Kids, even and odd woman, will often come up and rub and touch your arm to feel your skin, especially the blond red hair on my arm.
However, this chant happens every time in every village. The Agni often tell their small kids; "If you're not good, the white man will come and take you away." So many infants have a horrible fear of us when we first begin working in a village. Mothers coming by with wide eyed babies to see their first white person. Often the baby's begin to ball hysterically clawing and clutching to their mother.
Anyway, there was a time when for 6 months I had not seen a white person. One day I passed another white guy on the highway in the car and I wanted to turn and chase him down just to talk. Not because he was white, rather because chances where much greater that we shared a similar cultural background, therefore making it easy to just chat with full understanding. Cross-cultural communication is not easy because it more than just language, but culture, world-view exchange. Anyway, I think for the first time in my life I think I kind of understood just a little bit what it might feel like to be black, even though I was white.
I understand better the desire to belong. I'm glad to say that over time in Africa I eventually did come to "belong" and be accepted too. What a gift they gave me.
You know something, there are just some things that always weigh heavy on my heart. I'm a happy person, but, there are things I can't put out of my mind that many of my friends and neighbors can. Makes be feel foreign at times. So now in Africa I'm a "Blaufway", and at home, well I am just not at home. I know why this is in my head. I have become what they call a Bi-cultural person (Read the right side bar near the bottom) and the feeling of being at home never comes. Don't feel sorry as this does not mean I am sad. No it's deeper, a sense of not being home. I was told by another old wise bi-cultural person that it will not be filled until we are in the place made for us near the throne of heaven where every tribe, language, people, and nation will be with us around the throne. Sigh!
Now it's more of a curious interest as they shout this with a huge smile because, frankly they do not see many white people in these rural forest villages. Kids, even and odd woman, will often come up and rub and touch your arm to feel your skin, especially the blond red hair on my arm.
However, this chant happens every time in every village. The Agni often tell their small kids; "If you're not good, the white man will come and take you away." So many infants have a horrible fear of us when we first begin working in a village. Mothers coming by with wide eyed babies to see their first white person. Often the baby's begin to ball hysterically clawing and clutching to their mother.
Anyway, there was a time when for 6 months I had not seen a white person. One day I passed another white guy on the highway in the car and I wanted to turn and chase him down just to talk. Not because he was white, rather because chances where much greater that we shared a similar cultural background, therefore making it easy to just chat with full understanding. Cross-cultural communication is not easy because it more than just language, but culture, world-view exchange. Anyway, I think for the first time in my life I think I kind of understood just a little bit what it might feel like to be black, even though I was white.
I understand better the desire to belong. I'm glad to say that over time in Africa I eventually did come to "belong" and be accepted too. What a gift they gave me.
You know something, there are just some things that always weigh heavy on my heart. I'm a happy person, but, there are things I can't put out of my mind that many of my friends and neighbors can. Makes be feel foreign at times. So now in Africa I'm a "Blaufway", and at home, well I am just not at home. I know why this is in my head. I have become what they call a Bi-cultural person (Read the right side bar near the bottom) and the feeling of being at home never comes. Don't feel sorry as this does not mean I am sad. No it's deeper, a sense of not being home. I was told by another old wise bi-cultural person that it will not be filled until we are in the place made for us near the throne of heaven where every tribe, language, people, and nation will be with us around the throne. Sigh!
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