Are You Helping Or Hurting the Cause You Love?

Recently I watched a video clip of a talk by Andrew Mwenda given at last year’s TED conference in Monterey, CA. The title of his talk was Let’s Take A New Look At African Aid. As helping hand heavy-hitters like Bono sat and listened, Andrew described how the industry of aid has created a monster of a counterproductive system in Africa, whereas, the monies exchanged never quite adequately reach the intended recipients, which are the struggling citizens themselves, and instead fuels bad habits on the part of some African governments.

This charity dynamic made me really start to wonder about the world of philanthropy as a whole when it comes to countries with poverty issues such as Cambodia or those we often hear about within Africa. Although Andrew’s talk was with regard to government to government aid being largely hindering, it also raises the issue of whether everyday people and charities who aim to help in a global way are truly making a difference. Are we pouring our well-intended energy towards merely a band-aid effort, or worse, enabling the problem we’re trying to help eradicate?

I don’t think anyone who has serious interest in dedicating a portion of their life towards a cause they believe in actually wants to only get a less fortunate person through the day. Nor do I think they would want to enable a pre-existing oppressive system. Personally I think that in order to avoid this, people like myself who truly want to make a viral difference i.e. a self-replicating one, need to be focused on how our effort, donations, and intended ‘help’ in general promotes the supply of resources that will allow our beneficiaries to help themselves.

Recently, I’ve been in communication with Andrew by email because, I admit, I was concerned that my own organization was wheel spinning and possibly driving its mission with the wrong vehicle. Fortunately (considering his wealth of expertise in this area), Andrew feels I am on track. But how to stay on track? And how can others with well mapped out plans to make a difference in causes close to their hearts ensure that they are on track or revise their maps if they are off track?

Here’s Andrew’s talk…if you have a few minutes check it out, it’s excellent.