The issue of international aid has received quite a lot of press coverage recently and not all of it was good. Economic uncertainty and austerity measures have caused many people to ask should charity rather not start at home. Here are some views explaining why The build school in Africa campaign, is worthy of support.
Amongst the criticisms are that money often does not reach the people it is intended to help. The reasons this may happen differ widely between the type and nature of the charity, the country where it operates and external factors.
For many the concerns revolve around corruption. Donors become reluctant to support a charity when there is a risk that resources may be misappropriated. Reports of foodstuffs intended for needy victims being sold on black markets for the personal gain of corrupt officials have been substantiated. Dealings with cash are prone to go wrong due to greedy acts of fraud and theft by corrupt officials. The sufferings of an impoverished nation stand in severe contrast to the opulent lifestyles enjoyed by many of their so called leaders.
Military conflict is sometimes occurs within and between poorer countries. In such periods international aid materials have been known to be hijacked by one party and literally used as a means to blackmail others in the conflict. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes also severely impact against getting aid to where it is needed.
The question that frequently also gets asked is why, after countless years of providing aid, do things never seem to get better. One solution can be found in the old proverb that says if you give a man a fish, then you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. If there is not a serious educational thrust at the center of our aid programs, then the cycle of dependency will never be broken.
It is true to say that simply educating people will not immediately change things and the need for food programs and medical care during times of crisis, will still continue for some time. Similarly the amazing efforts of those conducting inoculation programs will probably still have to continue for some time to come.
The only initiative with any chance of turning the tide in the long term, is education, which is generally given scant regard. Frequently more money is spent on the military and arms than on education and this is often to prop up ineffective and insecure governments, their leaders, or worse dictators. The Generals of armies have neither the capacity or the will to produce doctors, engineers, farmers, computer programmers, managers and most importantly, more effective teachers. These job categories are but a few of the many needed to nurture a nation from recipients of aid to taking charge of their own destiny.
There is no quick or easy fix to these problems and the solution is certainly far off in the distant future, but the solution lies undoubtedly in the many tiers of education. This is the only means by which enlightenment, vision and inspiration will occur and why The build school in Africa initiative is so vital.
Amongst the criticisms are that money often does not reach the people it is intended to help. The reasons this may happen differ widely between the type and nature of the charity, the country where it operates and external factors.
For many the concerns revolve around corruption. Donors become reluctant to support a charity when there is a risk that resources may be misappropriated. Reports of foodstuffs intended for needy victims being sold on black markets for the personal gain of corrupt officials have been substantiated. Dealings with cash are prone to go wrong due to greedy acts of fraud and theft by corrupt officials. The sufferings of an impoverished nation stand in severe contrast to the opulent lifestyles enjoyed by many of their so called leaders.
Military conflict is sometimes occurs within and between poorer countries. In such periods international aid materials have been known to be hijacked by one party and literally used as a means to blackmail others in the conflict. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes also severely impact against getting aid to where it is needed.
The question that frequently also gets asked is why, after countless years of providing aid, do things never seem to get better. One solution can be found in the old proverb that says if you give a man a fish, then you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. If there is not a serious educational thrust at the center of our aid programs, then the cycle of dependency will never be broken.
It is true to say that simply educating people will not immediately change things and the need for food programs and medical care during times of crisis, will still continue for some time. Similarly the amazing efforts of those conducting inoculation programs will probably still have to continue for some time to come.
The only initiative with any chance of turning the tide in the long term, is education, which is generally given scant regard. Frequently more money is spent on the military and arms than on education and this is often to prop up ineffective and insecure governments, their leaders, or worse dictators. The Generals of armies have neither the capacity or the will to produce doctors, engineers, farmers, computer programmers, managers and most importantly, more effective teachers. These job categories are but a few of the many needed to nurture a nation from recipients of aid to taking charge of their own destiny.
There is no quick or easy fix to these problems and the solution is certainly far off in the distant future, but the solution lies undoubtedly in the many tiers of education. This is the only means by which enlightenment, vision and inspiration will occur and why The build school in Africa initiative is so vital.
About the Author:
If you are looking for "build school in Africa" information, click the info link. Bonazah USA is an organization created for the purpose of assisting the underserved children in Bonanyang-Etwii and more details are available at http://www.bonazah.com/about.html today.
