March 30, 2007
A Disappointing Journey
When you donate money for hunger relief, or water projects, or
self-development, what do you imagine will happen as a result?
Part of our job is to help such dreams come true.
We serve as regional “eyes and ears” for the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.). From time to time, the national office will ask,
or a congregation may ask, that we check on partner programs.
Typically, what they want is a report as to whether that program
is meeting its goals. So we travel to the site, interview people,
take photos, check references, and summarize our findings.
Three weeks ago, we spent a full day visiting a rural co-op.
What we found was hardly what we had hoped, but unfortunately,
it seems to be increasingly the norm.
We rise before dawn to await a good friend who has offered to
guide us in his vehicle. Ninety minutes out, we turn off the main
road. Another hour brings us to a town. With patience and guesswork,
we identify our contact, the project secretary, a nicely dressed
woman who squeezes into the back. “Just a short drive,”
she says. We’re glad to hear that because there’s
no petrol in the filling stations.
10 kilometers: Tar road turns to dirt.
15 kilometers: Serious washboard now.
40 kilometers: Evidence of repairs. Ditches and diversions.
Half-built bridges.
50 kilometers. All these villages look alike. Can anyone remember
any landmarks?
As our fuel gauge drops, the project secretary retains her cheerful
composure. “Turn here,” she says, pointing out a stony
track. “And here.” We’re now on cow path where
the grass is six feet tall. “Here.” Climbing up over
sheer granite boulders.
80 kilometers: Journey’s end.
A handful of women emerge out of the shade. They greet us, indicating
several chairs. They themselves sit down on reed mats. Our host
does introductions. Then she begins answering questions about
the program.
This windmill has been broken for three years even though the
cooperative received a grant to fix it.
Its stated goal is to reduce poverty by improving agricultural
output. While this area is subject to occasional drought, there
is a lake nearby and a borehole (deep well) too. But the windmill
for pumping the borehole has collapsed, which impedes irrigation.
With adequate water, good things could happen. It would seem that
job number one should be to fix the broken equipment.
“How long has the pump been broken?” we ask. “Several
years,” comes the reply.
That’s interesting. According to documents we keep in our
possession, this group received funds in 2005 to make those repairs.
Last year, they reported completion.
What would they do if they received further funding? Answer:
they would buy and distribute food. “Would you repair the
windmill or buy a hand pump?”
That idea apparently hasn’t crossed their mind.
We walk around the area and observe a bread oven, looking unkempt.
They say they can’t sell bread at a profit. A woman proudly
demonstrates a sunflower seed press. “Oh, we didn’t
notice sunflowers. Where do you grow them?” They don’t.
“When did you last grow them?” Nobody remembers.
Inside a building that has to be unlocked we come across two
knitting machines. They clearly have not been used. Elsewhere
we notice a sewing machine that also looks suspiciously virgin.
On a desk we see papers indicating that this group has been in
business for at least 15 years. They have been funded through
churches, embassies, and NGOs. Why, for so much input, do we find
so few results?
One hint comes when our host apologizes for the rather small
welcoming turnout. Apparently, many from the co-op have gone to
a neighboring district to register for government food.
It seems that dependency has become a way of life. It’s
easier to write proposals than to implement lasting change. In
this case, even the proposal was for profit. Our rural women’s
co-op had engaged a city writer who accepts as a “gift”
some percentage of funds received.
We think there has to be a better way.
Of course, if we knew all the answers, we would share them. Instead,
we have mainly frustration to share. We don’t think
that ceasing to donate is an answer. Neither is foregoing accountability.
“Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” said
Jesus in Matthew 10:16.
What we can say is this: We will always do our best to look at
every project with integrity and compassion. The needs are real.
And the intentions of many in this field are very genuine indeed.
If we have to make ten such disappointing journeys for every one
that bears fruit, it will be worth it.
Wouldn’t Jesus do the same?
Ted and Sue Wright
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 337 |
