The issue of participation

A school teacher with hope, Arusha

An emerging young woman in Kigoma.

Dusty road of Kasulu.

Tanzania is a developing nation. Like many post-colonial nations, poverty is rife. Throughout the republic there is a complex web of Non-profits, religious and governmental development initiatives. There are as many organizations as ways of doing things and it has become important to look more closely at the work of others, and to learn from it. Not all development organizations lend force to the people and local culture, not all money filters to favorable cause, but, there are many who are doing noble work in all domains.

The Nobel prize winning economist, Amartya Sen explores development theory with a lens of freedom as development. This includes the central issue of participation. Are the people free to represent themselves? To Act? To Action. 'The people directly involved who must have the opportunity to participate in deciding what should be chosen,' Sen writes, thus development as we know it may be harmful for traditions and cultural heritage.

A quiet elder on the boat to Gombe, Lake Tanganika

So, let the people lead themselves. Some non-profits and initiatives are beginning to engage participation and partnerships with local volunteers. The UNHCR is making efforts to extend that right to displaced individuals. More and more, it seems NGOs in Tanzania are lessening their overseas volunteers in order to make efforts more sustainable.
Chellie Kew, a dear friend and the founder of The Q fund inspired me early on to be awake to the deep contrast that is alive in this era. She spoke of her time in South Africa with such gaping darkness and extreme luminosity, depicting the real chiaroscuro of progress and devolution. We must always look closely at both.

Furaha.