A short story

It took about one and a half years of living and working in Zambia to finally reach the first of many realizations: I couldn’t participate in international development as it was being practiced. I think I panicked when I had initially put words to this feeling. I tried for a while to convince myself that this nagging voice could and should be silenced. After all, wanting to be a development worker was the justification I had used in 2005 for leaving my family, friends, and country. My path was clear – until I realized that it wasn’t a path I wanted to go down. I remember the moment when I thought ‘Would the people I’m dealing with choose to use the money we’re spending on this programme to build a toilet?’ I started to realize that as an NGO, we had decided to prioritize resources for each and every family we worked with. We, as WaterAid, chose to build toilets, hand washing facilities, and water points over school fees, food, and clothing – without really asking each family what they needed. After many more months of soul searching, experiencing, and trying to understand, I had come to a conclusion. For me, the most dignified and appropriate way of contributing toward development in Zambia would be to work toward providing opportunities for people. With access to opportunities, people have the freedom to make their own choices over their resources. And to me, the most obvious means of providing people with opportunities is through job creation. Even though I feel strongly about environmental and social justice, I believe that people’s basic needs have to be met before they are able to fully participate in those causes.
Take NB for instance. How are we ever going to tackle the issue of sustainability when an entire demographic of our population has to leave our province in order to make a livelihood for themselves? This is the demographic most likely to fight for change. They have the energy, idealism, and freedom to question circumstances and push the envelope. What will keep them here? Pristine forests? Gender equality? Perhaps. But without a job, they can’t survive.
This, my dear friends, is why I want to see this initiative of self-sufficienty move forward. We have an obligation to our region, our home, to bring it back to life in an appropriate, flourishing manner.
NBers are the only ones who will truly bring change to NB.