TO HELP OR HINDER??

South Africa - Educational Travel -

Sep 20, 2011

The last in a 4 part series entitled Poverty  - A state of mind or a state of pocket.

This month we look at Mobilising Internal Resource before bringing in outsiders help.

Drawing on the assets and resources available within a community is far more effective to ensure:

•             Sustainability of the project.

•             Empowerment of the local people and community.

•             Interdependence within community instead of dependence on foreign aid/outsiders' help.

•             Promotes problem solving within the community.

•             Avoids a passive and expectant attitude.

•             Promotes survivor attitude and confirms the ability and resources of individuals (I can help myself; I AM able) instead of a victim agenda (someone needs to fix my problems for me; I am helpless and powerless to help myself).

AVOID PATERNALISM

Some definitions of Paternalism:

The treatment of people in a fatherly manner, especially by caring for them but not allowing them to have their own initiative or responsibilities .

A policy of treating subject people as if they were children, providing for their needs but not giving them opportunities to do things for themselves.

•             Resource paternalism - providing only material resources into a project could result in the following:

o             Harming local small business initiatives: why would the community support local produce when goods are being provided for free by “well wishers”?  Irresponsible influx of resources undercuts the prices and harms local businesses who are unable to compete with prices.

o             Prevents the community from learning to be responsible stewards of what they have.

o             Prevents community cohesion as the members of the community need to rely less on one another.

o             Deepens the GAP between the “poor African” and the “saviour Westerner” which ultimately contributes to dependency and disempowerment.

•             Leadership paternalism – outsiders coming in and taking over the directing and leading of initiatives discourages the communities to rely on local leadership. Instead encourage leadership within the community and work alongside them – they will know the needs, resources, most appropriate methods of helping etc, best. This also ensures that once the ‘westerner’ has left the community, that the leaders can continue what was started, making the impact long-term and the work sustainable.

•             Knowledge paternalism – DO we really know what is best for others, in these contexts?  Strive to obtain knowledge before trying to impose what you think you know could help the community or project. Ask a lot of questions, and be open to learning from the community. Even though they are poor, they have knowledge, skills and abilities, and know their culture and situation much better than you do.

•             Labour Paternalism – doing work for people that they can do for themselves, and are sometimes even being paid to do, may result in:

o             Promoting passivity e.g. waiting for solutions from others.

o             Decreasing opportunities for the individual to improve and develop their skills

o             Disempowerment of the individual and confirming their 'inferiority' to your 'superiority' such as looking as westerners as “help” or “saviors” and not partners.

o             Lack of productivity - sometimes volunteers are not skilled and therefore take longer and use more resources than if the community member was doing the task. Community members MUST be involved in identifying the needs and directing the tasks.

It is important to work WITH people as you learn about the system and the community partner learns and is encouraged to take initiative.

•             Managerial paternalism – having the discernment of when to facilitate action or relinquish our need for control and achieve immediate results. Remember the community may have different ways of achieving results and within a longer time frame. If they are given ownership of the project the change they bring about is more likely to last longer and be sustainable than the change we attempt to enforce.

 

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