Ok, here's what I'll blog about:
This is the living standard for the majority of the inhabitants of Kampala:
And this is the UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) building in Kampala:
My husband informs me the floor inside the building is marble. Personally, that makes my stomach turn. How did we ever let this world get this sick? I am not interested in bashing the UN. Rather, I am interested in confronting the attitude of self-congratulatory 'help' for the poor among the int'l community when they spend their resources funding themselves, their own luxurious structures and their own staff (whose salaries are unheard of in places like Kampala). All those resources coming in from the first world member nations, and so little of it actually reaching the focus of their mission: the children of Uganda. This is something I have a very difficult time tolerating. There is something inherently so injust in these two photos side by side. God, forgive us.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
I can't even think of an appropriate title...
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15 comments:
I have to agree. Came upon your blog, ust by clicking next blog.
I have a poem on my blog titled "Is It Right".
You may..or may not..like it..but I think you will.
God Bless
Sarah,
I feel like we are just so detached from the reality of poverty in this country, I doubt that most people really think about what it's like to live in a war-torn third world country. I recently saw part of this film "War Cry", it is so sad to see these (what I would consider ) Little kids dealing with real life and death issues.
It has become so easy for us to ease our conscience by sending a check to help. I think that is a big part of the problem.
We can't even fathom losing our parents at an early age then being forced from our home to live in a refugee camp and have to take care of even younger children.
I hope we can all pray that GOD will open up all of our eyes that we would move toward more global solutions for poverty and hunger.
And that we would be less concerned about our self preservation and see how we all really are interdependent and that it's in our own best interest to fight hunger
You have surfaced another great issue Sarah.. so sad that those in charge feel so entitled.
I guess this is why I no longer send money to large organizations and choose to support causes that I have a personal connection to instead.
Only one word comes to mind...
Unbelievable.
Shaun, it's true. We live in such paradise, that even those considered to be living in 'poverty' in North America would be considered 'upper middle class' in many parts of Africa (in terms of consuming/purchasing power). And no, I can't imagine my daughter having to face issues (like war, being orphaned by AIDS, hunger) that so many of her African counterparts must on a daily basis. I also consider the fact that I've never seen an open sewer in my entire life proof that I am living a very sheltered life.
K-Bob, that is a good approach. I suppose it all depends on what we are each called to. Some feel a great burden for local issues, some feel a great burden for other nations. If we all just obey the part that God has given us, then it will all work out in the end! We sponsor a couple of children through World Vision, since they would never even have a chance at primary education without our help. But WV only spends 20% of its resources on admin, the other 80% goes to projects and the kids. I think Compassion Int'l possibly uses an even smaller percentage for admin costs.
Jeff, exactly. This is only the tip of the iceberg, really. The whole "Aid" thing has become a profitable industry in and of itself. Many NGOs (non-government organizations) make quite a good living by exploiting the need. Sad, but true. On the other hand, there are some NGOs (Christian and secular) that are doing really good things!
Randy, thanks for coming by! I'll go check out your poem now...
OOPS - World Vision (Canada) only uses 12.5% towards admin. I went and looked it up.
One local leader I talked with in Kampala summed it up nicely when he said, "These big organizations love to raise money and have meetings, then by the time they are done the meetings they have spent all the money and need to gather more money to help the locals."
All of the INGO buildings were luxurious like this one. They were all much nicer than any local government building. You also mentioned the salaries of these workers. I was told that a western worker for the UN doing the same job as a local (Ugandan) worker at the UN would make up to 500 times the salary of the Ugandan worker.
Unjust scales...
I guess my point is that there is a large amount of overhead and inefficiency when you go through an institution.
Over the years I took a position where I only support people that I know and have a relationship with.. some work with HIV/AIDS kids in Africa.. some care for kids in Asia.. some train others.. some use their architectural skills to build schools in underpriveledged areas.. these folks are out there if you keep your eyes open.. maybe it is one of the advantages of a more traditional expression of church.. the ability to make contact with people like these.
K-Bob, wait a minute... There's a large amount of overhead and inefficiency in institutions, but advantages to them (traditional expression of church?) Pick a side! Hee hee. :P
I laugh because I prefer ecclessia in noninstitutional forms, but believe that social services like education and the building of wells and that sort of thing can benefit from organizational infrastructure - hence my support of World Vision. So I'm clearly on one side regarding the church as a people - but am not anti-institutional across the board for every single social endeavor. Building wells isn't the same task as building disciples. But's that's a whole post in itself.
In all seriosness, that's cool to hear about the work your friends are doing. But I don't believe attending institutional church is the only way to find such people and build such relationships.
I have a friend who works with addicts in the UK, and have supported her work. And another who works to help direct philanthropic resources toward worthy destinations. But both of them are out-of-traditional-church Christians and I have met in other ways (than relationships forming around a shared institution).
New technologies are also facilitating the gathering of people around common causes and goals in a very uninstitutional way. I'm reading a book called "Here Comes Everybody: the power of organizing without organizations" which explores how 21st century technologies have created an unprecedented ability to coordinate, communicate, and participate for the average joe. I'll post a review when I finish the book! I highly recommend it!
Sarah,
Thanks for pointing out this important issue concerning how money is used. We all need our consciences challenged on this. It is easy to criticize organizations such as the UN because they can be very inefficient and demonstrate these inconsistencies. At the same time, we can point the same finger at each of us individually. Why do I live in such luxury instead of forgoing such a comfortable life so that more of my resources can be used for others in greater need?
For me, this is a very complex issue that I struggle with finding the right personal balance. I do not have an answer yet but move more and more toward less for me. It is not always easy. We need the wisdom of Father to learn to live His life.
As I write these words I am in Zurich awaiting my flight to Africa for the week. My heart is always challenged there and I am looking forward to seeing my African friends.
I thought you might say that Sarah :)
I guess my point.. whether it is about missions or church or whatever.. is that we need to have an pretty good understanding of how our donations are being used.. for me the best way to do that is through personal relationships.
I guess that can be an issue with mega-churches and mega-ministries.. but can also be a problem with smaller "organizations".
Traveller, I totally relate and am often conflicted. We have chosen a lower standard of living than most (in our situation) for this purpose of helping others, especially those in extreme need. Yet, in our lack of consumption, we still live such a high standard of living compared to most of the world. (We have a car! And a computer! And college educations - even though that is debt-induced).
Our hope is to continue to live lean even as our income increases (So that our giving increases rather than our living standard). But how much is enough - that is difficult and I think we must periodically ask God that question and seek for His wisdom in it. Also, what He is asking of me... I cannot presume He is asking of everyone. But then again, maybe He is. ??? No easy answers here.
K-Bob, Totally agreed! That is so necessary for good stewardship. I am responsible for where I invest the resources God has given us. We try to be careful and wise about that. We give where we see a good return of fruitfulness and only when there is total financial openness on the part of the recipient, whether individual or organization. We definitely feel a strong desire to resource the poor and needy, although we may be considered spiritually immature by some because we don't tithe to a church (resourcing our own spiritual needs). Go figure.
Shame!!!
Also, there are a lot of crystal canthedrals established where the poor around the world beg outside their doors.
I just read Compassion International's 2006 Form 990 today. I've always considered them a good organization, and they probably are for the most part, but they pay some guy in Burkina Faso about $160,000 in total compensation as country director. That is about 133 times the average salary in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world. Maybe there's a good explanation for it, but it really raised my eyebrows and made me ask, "Why?"
MB
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