Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.05.9911231238080.14509-100000@shell1> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 12:56:13 -0800 From: Brian Rankin <mailto:brankin@WCO.COM> Subject: Re: seeking stories To: mailto:DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
I just returned from a 3-month trip to Ghana where I helped a K-12 school install a computer lab. The school now has 13 networked computers with Internet access -- the children love it and are picking up some great skills. The lab is self-sufficient, I helped train lab techs to setup and run the equipment, they've already solved several technical glitches and are expanding the curriculum for the children.I certainly don't consider myself to be a "saver" or an invading "visiting expert". I feel extraordinarily lucky that I was in the right place, in the right time, to use my skills in a worthwhile manner. My payoff is in the incredible friendships I established during my time in Ghana, and the cultural immersion I experienced during those 3 short months.
Sincerely,
Brian Rankin
On Tue, 23 Nov 1999, Kelly Thompson wrote:
> Thanks Kerry,
>
> I believe as a listserv we do need to argue and grapple with development
> issues, but this particular exchange really irritates me. Nicole is
> speaking for herself but using her righteous indignation to justify
> speaking on behalf of "all" Africans (I note she never answers my
> question about her nationality). Many of us are more than aware of the
> inappropriateness of the "visiting experts" invasion of Africa and their
> imposition of policies and projects that support the Western economic
> paradigm. However, I know Africans who reach out to work together &
> share info with "the global community", as I know Africans who bitterly
> resent the neocolonialist approach to "their"development & seek to go
> beyond it. Sometimes these are the same people! However, ultimately we
> are all affected by what happens in Africa and must take personal
> responsibility for changing what we can. As Robert Chambers has recently
> stated, development starts at the personal level and echoes outward.
>
> Kelly
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kerry Miller [SMTP:mailto:kerryo@ns.sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 11:57 AM
> To: kthompson; devel-L
> Subject: Re: seeking stories
>
>
>
>
> Kelly,
> > Are either of you Africans?! Who is claiming to speak for whom?
> > Getting case stories circulated and seeking to build on best practices
> > in development work is useful. It will take all of us working
> together,
> > not just Africans, to create an equitable and peaceful world. Do you
> > really think this kind of arguing advances anyone's agenda?
>
> Please don't be misled by the nominal purpose of this list -- many
> people suppose that 'discussion of international development' is what
> takes place here. In fact, in this age of direct communication (without
> middlemen!), that kind of purposeful discussion is no longer relevant.
> (And even then the style was so top-down that one has to wonder
> if it ever was.)
>
> Rather, we are gathered here to share stories -- our own stories, and a
> story called 'Seeking' is just as real and legitimate a life experience
> as
> ones called 'Arguing' or 'Equity.' If only we had just a few more souls
>
> who could *listen, without parading and masquerading and handwaving,
> I'm quite sure everyone's 'agenda' would become incredibly advanced
> (perhaps even developed) but even among 1400 intentional subscribers,
> you can imagine how difficult it is to reach that goal -- let alone
> tackle
> the kind of 'meta-goal' you imagine Nicole and her protagonist (I'm
> sorry I've forgotten her name) are striving for, simply on the grounds
> that
> their stories *say they are striving. Why, if that's all it took, we
> could
> say 'New World Developmental Order,' and hey presto! it would be
> achieved! Not only would discussion be unnecessary, but *learning to
> discuss would be likewise!
>
>
> Cheers,
> kerry
>