The need here can be overwhelming. When I walk from our cottage to go buy fruits and vegetables, I pass by a village where large families live in mud huts with thatched roofs, no electricity, and no running water. Right outside the door are piles of trash that will never be collected by a municipal trash service. On the corner, a man with spina bifida drags himself through the dirt to beg from passers by. When I reach the markets, I quickly duck into the stall of my trusted fruit seller who knows what I want and treats me well. I don't dare walk past the other shops because I just don't want to deal with the desperate calls to please just take a moment and look in their shop... consider promoting their business so that they can afford school fees and food for their kids.
On the way to where we work we drive past several villages without electricity or enough water to keep the crops healthy through this dry season. We pass a school with 900+ students and 13 teachers (all crammed into rooms rooms without lights or running water... rooms that would house about 1/10th of that number at home). We pass a "school for the mentally challenged" and an underfunded hospital.
I can tend to be overwhelmed a bit when I look around and then realize that this is KENYA, one of the most developed and affluent countries in the region. At least there ARE schools and hospitals. At least this isn't Somalia. Seriously, have you read about that place recently?
There is just so much that we can't even begin to address. One thing that is challenging in this kind of work is simply being exposed to all of that need and feeling like what you are doing isn't even a drop in the bucket.
In order to combat this feeling, we have adopted a few strategies.
#1. Define a Focus:
If your goal is "to do good" you run a great risk of either burning out or spreading your resources so thin that they won't make a lasting difference. Our high level goal here is to implement projects that improve the lives of Digo people living in the rural Kwale district. Beyond that, we define a few specific target areas. "We want to promote Chidigo Literacy," ... "We want to assist single women in starting a business to support their families," ... "We want to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among primary school children." Once those criteria are in place we move on to the next step.
#2. Set out with measurable goals and objectives:
Whatever we do, we like to be able to build evaluation into the process so that we can step back and say "is this working? Did _____ happen in _____ [amount of time]?" If the answer is yes, then it is working. If no, then we have some reevaluation to do. We try to do that to stay objective enough to run the numbers and see if our ROI is making sense. However, in order to keep a human face on these efforts, to communicate the heart of what we are trying to do, and to encourage ourselves during the tough times, we go to step 3.
#3. Remember the individual stories:
It is encouraging when your criteria are all met, you implement a program, and then you come back to evaluate it and it is operating like you hoped. It really is. When you see 20 women succeeding with their small businesses, it is an amazing feeling. However, after a day where you had to say "no" to a group of women asking you to help them start a new project in a neighboring tribe, you didn't have medicine for a sick boy with one of the mothers in the literacy class, and you didn't have any food to give the teacher's son who is obviously malnourished, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by that whole "drop in the bucket" feeling.
That's when we have to sit back and remember that 2 years ago we visited Fatuma at her house and she was completely broken. She simply couldn't provide for her 2 small children. She was in tears because she honestly didn't know what she would do to keep them alive. This year, our visit with her was in the context of the new Micro-Finance group where she is a successful participant. Her business is doing well and sustaining itself. Her kids are healthy.
Maybe these are drops in a bucket, but a brighter future for these cute kids... these drops are quite worth while.
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3 comments:
Collin and family,
There is a quote that goes something like this. I am but one and I can not do everything but I am one and can do something. Sorry I can't recall the exact quote nor who said it but I think it appropriate for you at this time. Don't measure what you are doing compared to what needs to be done. You are doing more than your part, stay focused, stay on plan, don't ever lose your heart inthese matters, it's what makes you who you are and celebrate each step of the process. Remember, even God took longer than a day to create the universe. Your friend Ralphfromthe bank
Awesome guys, you've set some really exceptional but really achievable goals I'd say. It's exciting to be seeing the fruit of your labor already, and I'm sure Fatuma will tell you you've put so much more than a drop in her bucket, and that's already worth your efforts. You're in my prayers every day!
Hi Ralph. Thanks so much! That is very encouraging. I tried to look up the quote and found this:
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” - Helen Keller
Laura, thanks so much! You are so kind. You and Ian will love it here :)
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