Reflections (Part III) - Making an Impact

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
Nelson Mandela

Growing up, we are taught that giving is always better than receiving. We are taught that it is noble to help those less fortunate. As children, we donate food to the Salvation Army at Christmas. As teenagers we particpate in the 30 Hour Famine to raise awareness about hunger. As a society, we are constantly bombarded by requests from charities or humanitarian groups wanting donations to support a plethora of causes. It's always a question of "How can we help them?", "them" of course ranging from local victims of domestic abuse to drug addicts on the downtown east side to starving children in Africa.

Going to Africa has always, at least in my eyes, seemed like one of those really admirable things to do in life. As a child and teenager, I looked anyone who was leaving the comfort of their home to travel across an ocean to an unfamiliar place to try to make a difference, hoping maybe one day I'd get the same opportunity.

And then, this May, the opportunity seemed to fall right into my lap. And so, being the type of person I am, I threw on my rose-coloured glasses, packed up my suitcase, and set off to change the world. Ha. Sounds kind of idealistic and naive, huh? But as silly as it is, I think that any of the travellers I've met here would have to admit that they had the same lofty ambitions deep down. I mean, of course, it's not like we expected to pop in for ninty days and somehow cure AIDS, eliminate poverty, and completely rebuild the continent, but something we have all struggled with is wondering if we are going to be leaving Africa better than we found it.

Lets start with Nat and Heather. Thanks to the girls, there is a massive project underway which involves instating an electronic library in a university in Somaliland. They were able to envision the finished product, put the wheels in motion, and get this project off to a great start. They traveled to the campus in Somaliland, and were able to give seminars to the students about how to access electronic resources. Yes, it's clear the girls were able to make a really positive difference.

And Graham. While he struggled at the beginning with a placement that wasn't ideal, he was able to take the initiative to find a placement that would help him achieve his goals. He ended up working with Carolina for Kibera, the most well known NGO in Kibera. He was able to set up business workshops to teach small business owners the techniques they needed to succeed. The concepts he was able to explain to these groups will enable them to better market their products. Giving them even the most basic business skills will help the groups to become more profitable and successful, so they will be able to provide for their families. Yes, Graham definitely left Kibera better than he found it.

And me? I struggle with this because my experience wasn't nearly as hands-on as the others. While they were out, helping Kenyans (and Somalians) to learn applicable life skills, I sat in an office all summer staring at my computer screen. Of course, I'm certainly not complaining! I have loved every second of being here in the office, and the professional skills I've learned are invaluable. However, I'd like to hope that somehow, I left a positive mark on the community as well. I mean, I did spend a day tree planting, and I spent two days helping at a home for the mentally and physically disabled, but in both incidences, it was a one time deal. I put forth the effort, but the benefit ended when I walked out the door. The others, though, have projects that will continue growing and evolving long after the plane lands back in Canada. I hope that the ARO finds a sponsor for the "Connecting Africa's Youth for Change" proposal. Knowing that I contributed to initiating a successful project would make me feel like I made a measurable impact.

The other thing that dominated many an evening conversation was how many people need help at home as well. Maybe in Canada, there aren't millions of homeless people and HIV/AIDS outbreaks ravaging entire communities, but there are still social problems of a HUGE magnitude at home. There are children who don't have enough to eat. There are people living on the streets. There are troubled youth who are in desperate need of positive role models. Why are we so quick to jump on an airplane and fly around the world to make a difference when we have the potential to make significant changes in our own communities? I hope we all return home with the drive and ambition to head into our own towns and schools to lend a hand in any way we can.

I suppose as well, the hope is that we'll take what we've learned home, and it will inspire us to continue our studies, and go on to careers in the development world, where we actually will have a chance to make a large, measurable impact on the lives of those around us.

It makes me feel selfish for saying so, but I kind of feel like overall, Africa helped me out way more than I helped out Africa. I came here wanting to give, and yet I feel like I'm taking so much back with me. I guess maybe thats the point though. In helping others, maybe you really do help yourself. It reminds me of a short passage from Eat Pray Love:

“...when you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times, you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt – this is not selfishness but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty (and also entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight...I did not know yet what I deserved. I still maybe don’t fully know what I deserve. But I do know that I have collected myself of late – through the enjoyment of harmless pleasures – into somebody much more intact... I will leave with the hope that the expansion of one person – the magnification of one life – is indeed an act of worth in this world. Even if that life, just this one time, happens to be nobody’s but my own...”
Elizabeth Gilbert

-Delaney xo