Early in the lockdown I expressed hope that the difficulties we were going through were sparking a new level of altruism. This is part of what I wrote: The most striking aspect was seeing how many others had the same idea as us. We found that the neighbors helping our efforts had done their own …
Category: Charity Gone Wrong
Incidents when well-meaning charity goes wrong due to disparities in power and wealth
Mountains Beyond Mountains
Dèyè mòn gen mòn. Beyond mountains there are mountains. HAITIAN PROVERB ...And right action is freedom From past and future also. For most of us, this is the aim Never here to be realized; Who are only undefeated Because we have gone on trying… T.S. ELIOT, “THE DRY SALVAGES” Mountains Beyond Mountains is …
School Teacher
The funny aspect of the whole thing was when she came over and started beating my students, my initial response was to shrug and continue with the lesson. Let's back up. Two months ago I started a literacy class in a poor community next to the bridge. Makeshift huts climb the river's banks and line …
Unravelling Complexity.
In desiring to include more success stories about charities doing the right thing, I solicited a guest post from Jeph Mathias. Jeph works with a variety of NGOs across Asia (and beyond), specializing in the idea of complexity in development. This story was originally posted at Jeph's blog, unpredictable. It's Jeph from here: A small project …
Actions that match their words
For the fourth year in a row I had been invited to speak at an education conference. In previous years I had given a short, impassioned plea for adopting an ethic of service and working towards literacy for everyone. As far as I knew, there had been little meaningful response. This time around, a group …
The service club
After a 13 hour journey that was only supposed to be six, my coworker and I get off the train, freshen up, and enter the poshest club that's ever let me inside. We have been invited to present our education program to wealthy business people in a service organization. Their focus for the year is …
Interdependence
A kind soul asked if I would share some positive examples of NGOs doing their work. That was a fair request. The affirmation I give here does not mean that everything is perfect. For the moment I just want to focus on aspects that they do do well, things that make me happy.1 So here's …
Living closer, yet so far away
When she asked to host a holiday program in a class I was running, I felt like I had to agree. The program was for the next day. I had only just become a full-time staff member and this was one of our closest partners. She had already secured approval from my boss. I had …
Whose story do you hear?
Imagine you're donating to a wonderful American-based Christian charity. This group of kindhearted, Godly professionals has entered the battle against human trafficking in Asia. They support local Christians to stop trafficking operations and provide safe rehabilitation services for young women in awful situations. The support is both financial and logistical, with teams regularly going to …
The British Play Program
“We want to do another play program in your slum. But this time there are students from England coming. It’s important that we are able to do this in your slum because we’ve done it there before and you helped make the program proceed in a more organized fashion. We’d appreciate it if you could …
Stranger in a Slum 