One of the most frustrating parts about being a Peace Corps Volunteer is that we are constantly being asked to give money. Almost every day I am handed a pamphlet from someone who would like funds to do a project in the area. This sounds great but the budgets are always inflated to a large degree and the person will refuse to do the project for anything less than the stated amount. For example a few weeks ago a teacher at one of the local middle schools handed me a three page handout with information about a month long HIV/AIDS workshop he wanted to do at the school last year, but was not able to because he could not find the funds. I looked over the handout and all of the information seemed great, until I looked over the budget on the last page. It called for the equivalent of about 615 dollars which is a lot more money then what a lot of Togolese make in a year. After reviewing the information again I figured that we could do the same project and achieve the same results for about 20 dollars. This is just one of many stories.
It’s frustrating for volunteers because from the day we have arrived in Togo we are told by Peace Corps that it is more important to share our knowledge rather than our money in part because we don't make much. Many of the “development organizations” that volunteers work with are not self sustainable and never will be as long as they are funded by organizations like Churches in Europe or the U.S, or large international NGO’s like Population Service International, Rotary International or CARE. About once or twice a year a small group from these organizations will come to Togo for two weeks or so and see the progress that has been made. The people from these groups are put up in air conditioned hotels, driven around in Land Cruisers (land colonizers as we call them in Peace Corps), and have western food prepared for them. After their stay is over they hand over a very very large check and head back on a plane back to France. This just makes our job that much harder because we have no money to give and even if we did we are skeptical that the money would be put to good use, because we are here long enough to see how mismanaged the finances are here. I know that Peace Corps is not an option for most people and they prefer to do a small stint in a developing country through their Church or some other organization, but please don’t ever tell me that you did something like, “oh I did something like Peace Corps, and I just loved every second of it. Everyone was so nice and friendly.”
First off…. No. It was not like Peace Corps. Not even close.
Second… Yes, Everyone was friendly to you because you gave them a big check or help them build a church or school and then left.
Third… You were not there long enough to go through the hard parts.
When I flew home in August to go to my cousin’s wedding I flew from Accra, Ghana because it is cheaper but when I was on the airplane I could not count how many groups I saw, who were on their way home after doing their “development work” for a few weeks or less. They are easy to spot. The girls have their hair braided, the guys have their knock off sunglass on, (which they over paid for 3 fold because they can’t bargain), and chances are they are wearing the t-shirt of the church they belong to or some form of “traditional” African clothing (again they over paid for this). Oh and there is always some jackass in the airport lounge who is playing the African drum he bought on the trip
This is by far my most cynical post so far, but I am still very happy here. It is frustrating but I don’t let it keep me down, and I always feel good when I can convince someone that they don’t need a ridiculous amount of money to do some good for Togo. There is also some hope for funded projects in Togo. Another volunteer in a small village close to me is building a school, and I have no doubts that she will be involved in every step of the process making sure that all the money that she raises is not wasted or stolen. Like me she has been here for over a year and has done the research and found that her village could benefit from another school, and she will also be here long enough after the school is finished to see that it is being used properly. Her name is Rachel Gundacker and if you want you can make a tax-deductable donation to her school through Peace Corps Partnerships at peacecorps.gov.
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Brett,
ReplyDeleteI can understand why you are frustrated with the volunteers who are only in Togo for a brief period of time on some project that they will never stay long enough to see the benefits from. I can also understand your frustration with people who arrive, travel, see the atrocities of the country and then hand over a very large paycheck. I just want to ask a few questions regarding the post.
Do you think those people shouldn't do this at all? Are there benefits from having people come and do this in Togo (or anywhere else in the world)? What do you think they should do differently? If they weren't staying in air-conditioned hotels, eating western food, and driving in land cruisers, would it make you feel better/ do you think they would give more or stay longer? As you said, the Peace Corps is not an option for everyone. Do you think that coming for a short period of time is worthless? I know that there is a huge amount of mismanaged money that happens in most organizations. Do you know for a fact that when a person makes a donation through Peace Corps Partnerships that their money is going directly to where that donor wanted it to go? Can they check to make sure their money is being used how they had intended it?
Also, you mentioned that people come over and pay "3 fold" for their traditional African clothes or souvenirs because they don't know how to bargain. Does the extra money they give not help the vendor (assuming the vendors are local) they are paying?
I have known people that have done the Peace Corps over the years, and they too had their cynical moments. I want to say thank you for all that you are doing for Togo. Your hard work is something that many people will never experience, nor will they when they do a funded trip through their church or other organizations. I truly admire your will to change what you can in the time that you have. Keep it up.
Cheers,
Monica
Monica brings up some valid points. Is it actually better to do nothing then to leave a check and fly home? If such activity simply fuels corruption then it's actually and sadly better to do nothing. Perhaps the Peace Corps could partner with these "drop-by doners" and provide consistent follow up to their projects in order to ensure that the money is spent wisely and justly. The PC and the PCV's would need to have up front buy in on the projects. It would need to be a true collaborative effort and not an exercise in babysitting a project.
ReplyDeleteAs for the drop-by doners, let them stay where they choose and eat what they choose. Those that have a true spirit of giving will want to experiece the country by sampling it's food and living amoungst it's people, even if it's only for a few days. The others may just want a photo op.
As for teaching them how to barter, don't waste your time. The world already has enough jackass drummers.