Comic relief

If you are up for a good laugh listen to the March 5 podcast of Laugh out Loud. The second half features Canadian comedian, Arthur Simeon. Originally from Uganda, his insights on the NGO birthed stereotypes towards the continent of Africa and the Westerner's need to "go and help out" made me both laugh and cringe inwardly as I saw myself in the butts of his jokes. Daaaaang, you said it Arthur Simeon.

Kids in the back of the bus.

Voluntourism Is a sensitive issue, though many may not know it. I say this because I did not always know it. I've found that a lot of things in life are unexpectedly sensitive issues.

I will prelude my experience with voluntourism with a story from my past.

As a youth I grew up in the enclaves of youth groups in a town where many had the most beautiful of intentions to help the world. With seven official church buildings, and seven official youth groups in a town of 2000 and a high school attendance (7-12) of 350, "outreaches" were part of the vocabulary of everyday life. But no matter how much I agreed with the philosophy of helping my fellow man and sharing love and good things, outreaches always left me feeling ashamedly uncomfortable. This was for variety of reasons that I never put words too until more recently.

Perhaps If I describe one such outreach you may understand as I will probably convey some sort of feeling through my written bias.

I was 13 or so. It was a friday night-- outreach week at youth. This week we were going downtown, a soup kitchen and prostitution outreach. Of course I was nervous, my mental projections of this "scene" was that it would not be anything but what I was used to, there would be poverty and social issues a plenty. But beyond that was just the fact that I would be expected to interact with other people--strangers. Never mind their "issues", they could have been high class business men and I'd be nervous all the same, in any other setting, why would we meet? But if I didn't talk to them my "outreach" would fail. I would fail. So, off I went, courageous in those days.

The soup kitchen was awkward but manageable, those brave enough actually talked to the attendees, the rest just enjoyed a free meal with friends. The guys got to bond over some floor hockey (jealous).

Then came the prostitution outreach portion of the evening. I will never forget this experience. Fifteen teen/tweenagers piled into a minibus, first class tickets to the real life prostitution exhibition. I am surprised we didn't have to pay an entrance fee.

The point was for us to drive around and hand out hot chocolate. But with 15 kids and 1-2 prostitutes per stop, and 'safety issues' what could we really do? Well? Press our faces to the window to sneak a peak at the destitute souls. Me, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die; pretend I wasn't a part of this transgression of boundaries, of privacy. And I did at least shrink down in my seat. If I wasn't in the midst of the most insecure stage of life I might have barked at my friends to stop whispering and jockeying for a better view. Imagine yourself as the prostitute, they already suffer from the stigma surrounding their job, already feel judged my the world and then a van full of upper middle class kids (although they told us to dress down) comes in a van to stare and whisper while the driver offers you some hot chocolate.

Now, a good ten years later, I am out in southeast Asia, mingling with the world of NGO's. These (wonderful, wonderful, beautiful, helpful) places are often hot-spots for short term volunteer groups. Feelings of yester-year have at times come creeping back to memory as I observe, and am at times involved.

I got the impromptu chance to join a short term volunteer group in their slum ministry in Chiang Mai. With little idea of what this excursion would involve, aside from face-painting (yay!)<--that is not sarcasm<--that is also not sarcasm, I took this chance eager for an experience and to hang out more with this group of lovely<--(I mean that) people, yup I did it for me, not for any slum dwellers I'll admit. When we arrived I started to get nervous. I thought there might be building where parents could bring their kids to get face painting if desired. Rather, a group (much too large) of us walked down the side streets, peering into houses to find these poor children. When we found some the two people with brushes painted the kids faces, while the rest of us became 'the kids in the back of the bus', observers to the inner lives of slum dwellers, whispering and jockeying for a better view.

No no no more back of the bus for me! I'd rather stay home! When some guy started yelling, "How dare you...!", I both wanted to shout, "Amen brother!", and also to hide under a rock.

If unskilled, short-term volunteers go places and are not needed they tend to become voyeurs (minus the sexual connotation of the word). Ie, a group of ten goes out, there is only enough labour for two, and the other eight end up the kids in the back of the bus. In the words of one NGO worker, any number over twelve is a tour group, guess who's on display?

More seasoned NGO workers are well aware of this and many stop accepting short term groups, or are very selective, based on skills and need and size of group. One worker from an NGO dealing with trafficking victims shared with me a dream that one of her girls here in Cambodia had. She saw their building as a street full of traffic. The traffic itself was not a bad thing but it was leaving a trail of mud and the place was getting dirty, mud was starting to get on the girls and furthermore the girls began to look as though they were on display.

I told the worker, after she shared this story, that it really connected with what I had been feeling on this trip and that sometimes I wonder if I should even be here. Seasoned NGO workers seem easily defensive (still not sure why) and later I wondered if she took me to imply that she should not be here, she should not have come. To this I say no no no way! The time and work and skill she has put into being here, LIVING HERE building relationships that last, partnering with the people, creating opportunities for them. She has invested. She should be here.

For the rest of us, maybe the next time we think the only way to help an issue is to go out and do it ourselves, for three weeks, maybe reconsider? Maybe what would really be helpful is a cheque, or a couple years and a university degree.That may sound harsh. Oops. I write this just to make one think, not to say that volunteering is bad. It's great! So great! Super super great! So needed! IF its needed. Yeah that is right, it is so needed if its needed. As in, volunteers are in high demand, but a certain kind of volunteer--Skilled, long term volunteers mostly. Many, formerly myself included, have been under the subconscious impression that volunteers need not have skills--"NASA is understaffed, lets go volunteer to fly the rocket!". Well they might let you if you also offered a good portion of time to training, I'm sure they'd be happy not to pay you in the end. Ha!

And don't get me wrong I am no expert. There must be a reason why so many NGOs still accept short term volunteers. They can be very useful, like to teach a workshop in photography, or screen-printing, heck you could come teach me that for free any day! Or building a house, digging a well, picking up garbage, hells ya! And yes, some are just tired desperate for the man power. And yes some want to raise awareness for their NGO and hopefully get more funding. But if you want to go hug a poor child to make yourself feel better and send pictures back home like a world vision commercial (kick myself in the foot I just did this) just think again for an extra second. Because these kids have plenty of foreigners to come hug them and take pictures for two weeks and then leave them. Coming and hugging and leaving and coming and hugging and leaving. And these NGOS have plenty of foreigners coming--and getting sick--and having jet lag--and not knowing where to go--and taking up time and energy--and taking away from the focus of their work.

Voluntourism is not always bad---just sensitive. Not that it shouldn't be done, but that it be done with care.

Think it through. Find a place where you are needed, and if you can't...just go for a holiday! Spend your money in that countries economy! Or if that country's government is overly corrupt, send the organisation of your choice a cheque in the mail. And if you still want to go, if your heart is calling you to go, do. Do go. Yes, good can come of it, and God can use your time, and little blessings and miracles and doors of hope can be opened, even in a short time, and no maybe those kids won't be scarred for life if you are the 100th person to come and hug them and leave them. Yes maybe they will even be better for it. For those who have already gone, you have done well and good can come from your experience. If nothing more; a greater appreciation for the world, culture, and a break from the western bubble that may change your perspective for the rest of your life. It would be a shame for me to negate your precious experience with one biased blog post<--not sarcasm. Is this the same person writing? Yes! And I mean every word!

To go or not to go? That is your question! Choose wisely, and do your best not to become a kid in the back of the bus.

Faces of Cambodia: Part I

Factory

That word never gives me a good feeling. In fact I had a meeting once with the director of an NGO that works with trafficked and vulnerable women who said they were in the process of setting up garment factory for their girls to work. I regret I may have offended this lady when I immediately proceeded to ask, "...and what kind of working standards will be followed in this factory?" This question was employed so she may hopefully put to rest my most immediate imaginations; hot, muggy, dirty, squalor, with sad looking, underpaid, almost-akin-to slave labourers, working gawd knows what awful hours. Yet, in my defence, her reaction to my question might not have been so defensive had similar preconceptions of factory-life not also existed in her head. Aha! Don't be so quick to offence!

The word factory is oppressed and tired, just like it's proverbial workers. It is a word that should be buried in the history of industrial revolution from which it sprung. But it is no use changing the word "factory" to something more enlightened if the experience itself is not. If we redefine the word we must redefine the experience. As a lady I spoke with this morning envisioned for the potential factory her NGO may acquire, "it would be a place women here would love to work, that they would come running to work at!" Her name was Ginny, and this was her vision of a "factory" here in Cambodia. And It's not impossible Mr. Walmart. Why is this so? Because Ginny and her Cambodian partners' business does not run for profits (even though they are very profitable). Their focus is restoring hope and freedom to the lives of women who have faced experiences in trafficking. Making their lives freer and happier. People are the purpose, not profits. And no I am not talking communism, or maybe I am, not sure. But I am talking co-operation, and empowerment of the proletariat and the oppressed.

Just try telling the fat cat capitalists that.

Well, maybe you could tell them, by buying your 40 dollar purse from Sak Saum (the organisation of Ginny's affiliation) rather than Walmart. It'll last as long, it'll look as good (if not much better) and the women who make it get paid well, (well enough for each to buy a piece of their own land, and no small piece!) They are improving their lives experience. Perhaps one day, when they grow their business enough to acquire a "factory" it may be the type of place women would jump at the chance to work at.

And, speaking on the side of optimism, maybe fat cat capitalists are a dying breed, the corporations they have created continue on, those things are outta control man! But the next generation of business-iers I gotta believe they learn a little social responsibility in school and come out the other side as decent human beings. Yes I've seen it. Freed by

Design is an example of this (freedbydesign.org). A shameless plug as I am it's intern, but I believe in it none the less!

Economic Interlude

Throughout my study at university in International Development Studies, I was often faced with the challenge to buy less. This based on the idea that resources are scarce and consumerism is one evil among many. However, thinking on my previous post, it seems that the more that is purchased, the more livelihoods are sustained. So then, what should I do? Buy more or buy less?

But perhaps that is not the right question to ask. Rather I should ask: What products should I invest in? and, at what price? Or, am I willing to have less, but pay more? It is not so much a matter of feeling guilty over ones first world spending power, but directing that power towards worthwhile products. Perhaps, I can still appreciate the beauty in life and purchase items that exist beyond my subsistence. I need to buy from the little guy, or the big guys that care about the little guys.

There is a website I was once directed to that aids in directing the worlds purchasing power towards ethical products. Its worth a check out!

http://www.ethicalocean.com/about-us

Faces of Chiang Mai: Part II

One day I went to visit *P'Wanda to get my nails done. I met her at my guesthouse where she had come to help her boyfriend find a room. Wanda is a Thai woman, 35 years old, incredibly friendly and sweet, amazing person, with a youthful heart. I liked her right aways. We chatted while she did my nails and I found out a bit about her life. She talked about when she was younger, she loved to drink and party, she misses those days, it was fun. But she said she had many broken hearts. One man from Hawaii, one from Australia, and in those days she saved so much money. Perhaps I am wrong to assume why, its not the politest question to ask. This situation however seems to be another face of the prostitution in Thailand, and in fact, it is not really prostitution at all or is it? Is it all a matter of perspective? Some women here would not see it as such, but rather they might see themselves as opportunists. They are seeking love, and a way to support themselves and their families. Foreigners might supply this need. Wanda explained that her foreign boyfriends never understood her need to take care of her family, they would want to provide just for her. It seems there is the fear from these men of being used. And perhaps the fear is warrented based on the circumstances. In these situations, love, fear, lust, money and cultures collide providing an adequate incubator for insecurity and a lack of trust from both sides.

Faces of Burma: Part I

Sally also explained a bit of her perspective on the Burmese situation. Every few weeks Sally and her husband take a trip to the Thai-Burmese border to check in on the program there. It is not possible for them to stay there full-time and they are restricted to a half-day crossover. It is also quite dangerous. She relays estimates of upwards of 80 percent of women in this border town are involved in prostitution. The difference between prositution here and in Chiang Mai is that in this town it is a forced employment-- based on the extreme poverty of the people. This area is very near to the golden triangle. Drug-lords will pay a family upwards of $3000 for their daughters. This amount is unimaginable to most and makes the choice to sell regretfully tempting, furthermore as families may be under the impression that they will get their daughters back after a certain period of time. Some families do receive their daughters back though Sally tells one story of a girl returning home so badly beaten and disfigured that she needed reconstructive surgery. The hospital bill made the families choice to sell their daughter an even more regretful one. It pained me so much to hear these stories and statistics. Burma is really in need.

The program there involves a safe house for burmese women formerly involved in prostitution. Sally describes the women staying there as fiery evangelists and advocates to their cause and changed lives. I hope to visit there and meet these women. Perhaps I will have more to relay.

I asked Sally what her vision is to help these women; what she thinks they might benefit from. She replied, "mass-marketing". She explained that World Vision had a program whereby they would create large orders of jewelry to be made by these women, 1000 of this kind, 1000 of that kind etc. This is what they would benefit from, but more frequently. She is waiting for the right person, or team of people to come in with a passion and vision and make it happen. It also seems to involve macro-economic issues, and opportunities with-held by the Burmese government.

Faces of Chiang Mai: Part 1

One day I sat down and to have a chat with *Ba Sally. Sally is a beautiful, kind-hearted Canadian lady who is working with her husband alongside some equally kindhearted and beautiful Thai and foreign staff to run a kids program for families who are less fortunate. Sally explained that they used to run a womens equipping program where they would teach women involved in prostitution how to bake and other skills, however they had to make the decision to shut it down. She explained that perhaps some reasons for this were based in a general characteristic of the Chiang Mai prositution sector. The womens program just wasn't producing any results because attendance was low. Perhaps only one or two women left prostitution through this program in 7 or so years of operating. Sally explains that for many here prostitution is more of a choice (I highlight more as I wonder if there were other options availabe that met the same finacial needs, if these women would still choose prostitution). Women just weren't desperate enough to leave.

Sally admitted she didn't see the womens equipping program in Chiang Mai as successful, but her eyes lit up when she described what sucesses she had seen, successes that involved a change in peoples hearts when they discover the love and fogiveness and acceptance of their creator. Or successes such as hearing that one of their children from the program (because of what she learned there) ran away from being given sexually to her mothers boyfriend and called the help-line. One day as Sally and I were standing in the hub-bub of kids playing around our feet one girl came up smiling and gave her a hug. Sally turned to me and said, "You know, when this girl first came here, you wouldn't see her smile." This is a success.

*names have been changed