GIVE: It’s About the Communities
Written by: Jason Thonssen
6/20/2013
The GIVE volunteering experience is unique, not only as an eye-opening and life-changing one for the volunteers and local communities, but also in how it approaches the development process.
GIVE‘s focus on sustainable development and community empowerment ensures that it is not only project minded, but community minded; putting the needs of the local communities first, and meaning it. This is the rally cry for scores of organizations, but in the last year I have become more aware of what these concepts truly mean and GIVE's true dedication towards community development and empowerment.
During my senior year in college, I took a cultural psychology class in which we studied the effect of Western cultures (North America, Europe, and Australia, basically) on non-Western cultures, primarily third-world countries. It was here that I became critically aware of the ethnocentrism (judging and interpreting other cultures based on one’s own culture) that is common in many extensions of Western culture into non-Western cultures, many times with the best of intentions.
It is clearly a priority to make connections with the local communities and understand their position and what they want.
This often happens simply because those of us who have been raised in a Western, first-world atmosphere are used to our own cultures and simply don’t think about how drastically different other cultures can be. These differences are not just limited to the obvious such as language, religion, ethnicity, etc., they go as deep as how people think of self-esteem, how to act in social situations, even how diseases and psychological issues are manifested. Many people fail to see these differences when they undertake charitable work. Instead, they focus on what they think is best for the community, ignoring sometimes drastic cultural differences. This is not to say that these individuals are self-centered or uncaring, it is merely the product of a system which teaches that those with the resources, know best.
Perhaps the most personally influential aspect of my time with GIVE was that they managed to avoid these hang-ups. GIVE works through an asset-based mindset, meaning they provide the materials needed to meet the goals of the community; and this is just the first step.
"During my volunteer trip, I noticed how GIVE is fully immersed and invested in the community and vice versa."
For example, the coastal town of Jiquilillo in Nicaragua draws most of its economy from the fishing industry. When I arrived, there was only one marine mechanic in the area, servicing Jiquilillo and two neighboring towns, showing that there was a definite need for more. While Jiquilillo had many needs by Western standards that most charities would come in, fix, and leave, GIVE took time to sit down with community leaders and prioritize the needs so the most important issues could be tackled first.
While this may not seem like a revolutionary process, it is imperative for successful development, and was definitely one of the things that drew me to GIVE and influenced me while I was volunteering. Taking the time to meet with the community and establish relationships before the work is started ensures that GIVE trips are as effective as possible and relationships will last long after the work is done. I am proud to have been part of this process as a GIVE volunteer, knowing that my contribution continues to effect change today and will well into the future.
