Lately I have been thinking a lot about my identity as an American and my identity as a global citizen. I think this is because of my recent travels and the understanding that no matter how much value I can bring as a foreigner it will never be as valuable as what local talent can do for their home country.
So it begs the question, which I have often been asked, "Why don't you do work in domestic poverty?". Some may say it is because the poverty is greater abroad or that international travel is where their heart lies, both of which, for different reasons may be compelling answers.
But from my perspective it is about the recognition that domestic poverty is directly linked to global poverty. We can no longer develop inward looking solutions, we must look to the world outside our borders to discover multidisciplinary approaches to addressing social issues. The natural example is microfinance. An innovation that was founded in Bangledesh and is now playing a significant role is developing the domestic economy in the US.
So at the end of the day there is not one identity that trumps the other as they are both constantly seeking solutions and learning from each other everyday.
"Bridging the Gap" by Blair Emily Miller
Blair,
ReplyDeleteI have asked myself that same question many times over the past few years. It comes to mind every time I see Western professionals working in developing countries, and it has re-surfaced even more often now that I am in a country where I rub elbows with bright young people who have MBAs and PhDs and have worked in domestic companies' whose annual revenues are on par with many multinational corporations.
Having worked closely with cash-strapped NGOs, my first concern is material - financial consideration comes first. When the cost of my plane ticket alone exceeds the monthly salary of someone as qualified as I am, or when the rent of my expat apartment is equivalent to a medium-sized organization’s entire marketing budget, why am I here?
My second question, one that was unambiguously brought to the forefront of my work almost ten years ago on a trip to the Philippines, is about local expertise and cultural awareness. You are spot on when you mention that someone who knows, understands, and thinks like the community they work in can bring much more than an outsider who has years of expertise in this domain back home. While I was setting up a computer curriculum in rural schools, I met a Filipino math teacher, born and raised in one of the town, who had been working in the IT field for more than 30 years. He understood the local language, the way the school system functioned, and the children's learning habits. And he knew infinitely more than me about all aspects related to computers. I simply couldn't understand what a kid, an outsider still in college, was doing out there when there were much more qualified individuals already onsite.
Clearly, there is no simple answer. One thought which I have come to accept is that it is what I represent – and not who I am – that brings more value to my role in these places. Whether I embody an NGO, an investor, the World Bank, or simply the 'West', people often associate me with money, respect, endorsement, and standing. It turns out that the Filipino IT expert I met at the school had approached management many times to suggest implementing a computer curriculum, but was never given a voice. They needed a foreigner, no matter how young or inexperienced, to come and tell them about the idea for them to implement it. And this is not an isolated event - I have been told numerous times throughout my short career, implicitly and explicitly, that 'we need a white guy on stage'.
Of course this is not my only purpose out there (or so I hope). I actually like the idea of your two identities constantly learning from each other. But I would take it a step further: Why don't you apply this image to different people as well? Two individuals, or groups of individuals, one global, one local, who juxtapose their local knowledge, field expertise, and cultural awareness to generate new common solutions that transcend national, economic, academic, and social boundaries. A true global collaboration to me should be an enhanced version of a participatory approach to development – It must first and foremost start with open-minded individuals on equal footing bringing widely different skills to the table and working together towards a common goal.
Not sure if it all makes sense, but thanks for the stimulating read :)
Yehia
Yehia, thank you so much for your comments, I appreciate your thoughts. I do think it is critical that we all learn from one another.. the Fellows Program is a perfect example of that. Our conversations, particularly those from "Good Society" http://www.aspeninstitute.org/seminars/-aspen-seminar
ReplyDeleteprove how those conversations can transform individuals and even societies...
I actually just had a conversation with a very close friend from Nigeria last night. While we share a similar vision for the world because we both have such unique perspectives and experiences we continue to learn from one another about how to create change...
Another thing that struck me about your comment was your phrase "on equal footing". In one sense i think we are all already on equal footing, ie. we are all born with equal dignity... then in the same breath i wonder if we will ever get there as a world...
Blair
Blair and Yehya! the idea of learning from each other is so powerful! Example of cross sectors and cross geographies 'freshness' cross my way on daily basis. At the same time, so many 'ideas and stories in action' of such learnings are unseen and unheard yet...And I think what makes the difference is the 'POWERFULNESS' of idea characterized by novelty, cost, timing, compatibility and most importantly source of the idea rather than people only.
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