uestion relative to the effectiveness and net impact of various international aid programs and solutions.A couple of interesting takeaways so far:
- Rather than import 'Western' solutions and answers, use external resources to empower local people to apply locally-sourced solutions. In many cases this seems to be more effective in the short and long term.
- International aid volunteers seem to overwhelmingly feel like they gain more than give from their experience. Not that this is a bad thing in itself. These individuals are likely to come back to their own communities with a new sense of purpose, a new sensitivity and awareness beyond what the media may portray, and hopefully translate that into some sort of local activism or information sharing.
Certainly, we shouldn't turn away from parts of the world that are suffering. But all help is not created equal. Kind of like your buddy who says he can help you fix your roof. He sure means well and will try his best, doesn't mean he'll do a good job of it, and in the end it may rain inside your house :-)
