Perspectives on Aid

When 16, my parents took our family to Indonesia to do aid-work. It was then I was first faced with the complexity of trying to help: what signals does it send? Does it imply to the receivers of aid that you (and the rest of the world) view them as powerless? -and that you (and the rest of the world) have all power to change them? How do you avoid the total dependency of the community, on however large a scale, on aid? What is the west's motivation? -is it guilt money? The problems continue to form a very, very long list.

Its been long since this has been on my mind, but through podcasting "Speaking of Faith" I listened to an interview with an African journalist, Binyavanga Wainaina, who is a recognized voice on this issue. In satirical style, he wrote an article as a tip-sheet for wester journalists on how to write about Africa. Here's an excerpt:

"Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa.
Describe, in detail... dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the ‘real Africa’, and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West.
Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla."

Read the full article here.

Listen to the one hour-long, in-depth interview from here.