Thank you for this. A great book for this discussion is “Helping People Help Themselves” by David Ellerman - he posits ‘autonomy-respecting’ assistance. Also, google Rachel Naomi Remen, “In the Service of Life” for a beautiful view of service vs. “helping”.
I am sorry that this is such old news ... AND it is a great reminder especially for those new to Social Venture Enterprises and CSR. Anyone who embeds themselves into a community has a huge opportunity to find the gems and opportunities and dreams of the locals and the local leaders to empower. Help becomes listening and empowering and supporting. Anything “done” to a community doesn’t stick regardless of the “visitor” is known in case studies -B of P Unilever and 1st hand. Pushing help doesn’t have to be a infinitely repeated action. Appreciative Inquiry use by the US Govt predates Human Centered Design (HCD). HCD often excludes the word opportunity and mostly includes the word problem.
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an international network of organisations. Each independent EWB organisation has a their own model for engaging with community, which reflects the particular philosophy adopted and context in which they work. Engineers Without Borders Australia works on a strengths based approach alongside partner organisations to build local capacity in areas such as engineering education, water, sanitation and hygiene and shelter.
“We can encourage societal and technological leaders to engage in the conversation about development, empowerment, and engagement ..” With respect, encourage is the wrong word.
You set out by engaging the community and working with ..
Even though I have a degree in “international development,” I have always considered myself a student of social change, which by definition requires solidarity rather than intervention. The trouble with looking at our work in this way is that the path to a more equitable and just society is quite unpredictable, rarely linear, and always requires risk - an approach that the aid sector in particular has attempted to ignore through applying technical, managerial approaches.
Regardless of what we call our do-gooder endeavor, we have to constantly be asking ourselves if we question the sources of power in “D”evelopment enough in our day-to-day work? Do we acknowledge and challenge the policies and practices that marginalize and demotivate people, especially local activists? In all of the seemingly mundane acts of planning, coordinating and monitoring projects, do we acknowledge the deep and profound difference between social change and service delivery?
Along with the author, I’m asking: If the development industry, as a whole, remains divorced from this, are we missing the whole point? Do we value every individual’s unique potential to achieve something greater than they ever could on their own, building collective power in the process?
With my class at Georgetown last year, I released a publication that explores how international organizations can get beyond polarizing portrayals of global development and aid. It has been well-received in the sector, accessed over 10,000 times. Have a read: http://issuu.com/howmatters/docs/the_development_element
Educational settings for knowledge and and secondary research does harm in international development not grounded in real time live field interaction. Local Communities deserve observation and active inclusion as leaders to get to what matters most to them, before development has a place in the community period. That is the purest definition of service.
This post provides such a refreshing argument for human centered design. This, of course, is the practice by which an issue is only ever tackled by first truly understanding how it exists in the lives of the people you aim to serve. Then solutions are developed shoulder-to-shoulder with the community itself. Only when we treat people in the developing world as capable, dignified and resourceful thought partners will big challenges truly be sustainably addressed around the world.
This post provides such a refreshing argument for human centered design. This, of course, is the practice by which an issue is only ever tackled by first truly understanding how it exists in the lives of the people you aim to serve. Then solutions are developed shoulder-to-shoulder with the community itself. Only when we treat people in the developing world as capable, dignified and resourceful thought partners will big challenges truly be sustainably addressed around the world.
Brilliant article! I don’t see such articles any more these days. Well thought out and really well written. Couldn’t agree any further. Thank you for this.
COMMENTS
BY Charlie G
ON September 3, 2015 10:25 AM
Thank you for this. A great book for this discussion is “Helping People Help Themselves” by David Ellerman - he posits ‘autonomy-respecting’ assistance. Also, google Rachel Naomi Remen, “In the Service of Life” for a beautiful view of service vs. “helping”.
BY Nancy C.
ON September 3, 2015 11:38 AM
Great post. Another good book is “Thinking Small: The United States and the Lure of Community Development” by Daniel Immerwahr.
BY Tracy Sparks
ON September 3, 2015 10:26 PM
I am sorry that this is such old news ... AND it is a great reminder especially for those new to Social Venture Enterprises and CSR. Anyone who embeds themselves into a community has a huge opportunity to find the gems and opportunities and dreams of the locals and the local leaders to empower. Help becomes listening and empowering and supporting. Anything “done” to a community doesn’t stick regardless of the “visitor” is known in case studies -B of P Unilever and 1st hand. Pushing help doesn’t have to be a infinitely repeated action. Appreciative Inquiry use by the US Govt predates Human Centered Design (HCD). HCD often excludes the word opportunity and mostly includes the word problem.
BY Jane Hadjion
ON September 3, 2015 11:26 PM
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an international network of organisations. Each independent EWB organisation has a their own model for engaging with community, which reflects the particular philosophy adopted and context in which they work. Engineers Without Borders Australia works on a strengths based approach alongside partner organisations to build local capacity in areas such as engineering education, water, sanitation and hygiene and shelter.
BY Toby Cumberbatch
ON September 9, 2015 06:34 AM
“We can encourage societal and technological leaders to engage in the conversation about development, empowerment, and engagement ..” With respect, encourage is the wrong word.
You set out by engaging the community and working with ..
BY Jennifer Lentfer
ON September 9, 2015 05:48 PM
Even though I have a degree in “international development,” I have always considered myself a student of social change, which by definition requires solidarity rather than intervention. The trouble with looking at our work in this way is that the path to a more equitable and just society is quite unpredictable, rarely linear, and always requires risk - an approach that the aid sector in particular has attempted to ignore through applying technical, managerial approaches.
Regardless of what we call our do-gooder endeavor, we have to constantly be asking ourselves if we question the sources of power in “D”evelopment enough in our day-to-day work? Do we acknowledge and challenge the policies and practices that marginalize and demotivate people, especially local activists? In all of the seemingly mundane acts of planning, coordinating and monitoring projects, do we acknowledge the deep and profound difference between social change and service delivery?
Along with the author, I’m asking: If the development industry, as a whole, remains divorced from this, are we missing the whole point? Do we value every individual’s unique potential to achieve something greater than they ever could on their own, building collective power in the process?
With my class at Georgetown last year, I released a publication that explores how international organizations can get beyond polarizing portrayals of global development and aid. It has been well-received in the sector, accessed over 10,000 times. Have a read: http://issuu.com/howmatters/docs/the_development_element
BY Tracy Sparks
ON September 9, 2015 07:43 PM
Educational settings for knowledge and and secondary research does harm in international development not grounded in real time live field interaction. Local Communities deserve observation and active inclusion as leaders to get to what matters most to them, before development has a place in the community period. That is the purest definition of service.
BY Pam Scott
ON September 11, 2015 03:52 PM
This post provides such a refreshing argument for human centered design. This, of course, is the practice by which an issue is only ever tackled by first truly understanding how it exists in the lives of the people you aim to serve. Then solutions are developed shoulder-to-shoulder with the community itself. Only when we treat people in the developing world as capable, dignified and resourceful thought partners will big challenges truly be sustainably addressed around the world.
BY Pam Scott
ON September 11, 2015 03:52 PM
This post provides such a refreshing argument for human centered design. This, of course, is the practice by which an issue is only ever tackled by first truly understanding how it exists in the lives of the people you aim to serve. Then solutions are developed shoulder-to-shoulder with the community itself. Only when we treat people in the developing world as capable, dignified and resourceful thought partners will big challenges truly be sustainably addressed around the world.
BY Mahesh Jayaraman
ON September 26, 2015 06:30 PM
Brilliant article! I don’t see such articles any more these days. Well thought out and really well written. Couldn’t agree any further. Thank you for this.
BY Sandra Sparks
ON May 30, 2016 11:38 PM
Very gud article.Thank u for giving a thoughtful idea to involve in global development efforts.
BY cecilia öman
ON May 6, 2021 11:17 PM
Excellent Julia Kramer.
Please HR&S would like to be in contact with you.
http://www.humanrightsandscience.se