Kenya w/ Global Hope Network International
Jeff Powers (GHNI Partner Development) and Jack Sauls (TCD volunteer) set up a video conference with donors in America. From left: Habiba Dima, Martin Mariti, Jeff Powers, Jack Sauls
My first trip to Kenya with GHNI (Global Hope Network International) was in March of 2014. I had met Jeff Powers, in US Partner Development, at an un-conference called ungeeked. He was presenting on how the organization was using digital and social technology to drive awareness for sustainable community development, and help donors supporting the cause keep in touch with the communities they supported.
What drew me to this organization was their focus on problem solving, not symptom solving. In America we believe that giving provides support to the needy, but this is simply not the case. Giving only exacerbates the problem. A shipping container of free clothes can, and has, shut down entire textile businesses, driving many who had jobs into poverty because now there is no need to purchase clothes.
GHNI believes every community has strengths, resources, and a future. They help draw out potential through a hand up, not a hand out. Gaining villages trust to participate in the program however, is the primary challenge of the organization as it is common in Kenya for NGOs to come in and offer “training sessions”, which they pay villagers to attend. These initiatives are strategically driven by the NGOs, because they can report back great attendance to their donors, and continue the cash flow for their air-conditioned, downtown office, range rovers, and healthy paychecks.
Other times “projects” are funded for a specific need, like access to water, but they are rarely completed, and if they are, they are not done in a sustainable way. So naturally, the Attir villagers were skeptical when we came to help.
An Attir elder known as, Mama, said she did not want our help “if we intended to erect another statue.” speaking about an abandoned water tower standing prominently in the center of their village.
Attir Elder, Mama
During our meeting with the Attir, Habiba Dima, explained that GHNI was here to work with the villagers, and they were willing to commit 5-years of support to identify and implement solutions for their community in five key areas: water, food, wellness, education, and income.
Each key area provides a foundation to achieve village-sustainability, and requires the community to take ownership in transforming their village.
After our meeting with the Attir we took the long walk to their current water source. A creek downstream from a camel’s watering hole. The same creek another village previously used prior to working with GHNI. You can read more about Gambella’s success on the GHNI website.
Today the Attir Village is generating income, producing crop, and drinking clean water. And they are doing it on their own. How might we, Americans, leverage this approach to lift up and empower those in challenging socio-economic environments? What opportunities exist for us to provide hand ups vs. hand outs.
Pictures from our meeting with the Attir.
