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Garikai Chimuka
1 post Location:
Wageningen
Netherlands |
03-06-2011 16:54Pen Pals20 April 2011
Dear Anne
It was great to read the important and often vexing issues you raised in your letter.
I have spent my entire life in Zimbabwe but also the past three years as part of the Netherlands African Diaspora. I believe this gives me a unique ability to look at issues from both the North and South perspectives on the basis of practical experience
Yes, Dutch society has not been involved in the debate about international cooperation as much as they could have. However, in the past 2 years, I have noted a paradigm as the debate around budget cuts has intensified. It has been a long time, perhaps going back to the 1960s that even Dutch students were in the streets in massive numbers like we have seen this year demonstrating against educational cuts
The North debt crisis has raised debate and involved many people on issues including development aid as citizens seek justification on which sectors to cut or spare. In UK for example where the development budget has been ring fenced, we have seen great anger at what most people feel is wastage of money on corrupt developing world dictators when important sectors like education for UK youths are suffering. This is basically the dominant sentiment including in the Netherlands today
It is important for organizations like the Voice Over to embrace this debate and utilize it to present the real picture on how development aid is making massive differences to poor people in the South. In this situation, the voice of the actual beneficiaries must be heard. The utilization of tools like citizen journalism where the success stories of development aid are captured by the beneficiaries themselves will greatly assist
In as much as there are poor people in the developed north, highlighting how development aid is for the common good will also assist people to appreciate its importance. There are simply some global public issues that cannot be solved by one or a few nations acting alone. Issues like climate change, health pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and flues that defy national borders.
The point that the world is now more intertwined than at any times in human history is also important to emphasize. People can see how for example the current revolution in the Arab world is affecting them with the increase in the price of petrol. Therefore it’s in the North’s interest to assist in programmes that strengthen democratic institutions that are the only insurance for long term stability in these countries which also results in stability in the north
More is also needed to enlighten the people in the North that development aid is not only about dumping billions of Dutch taxpayers’ money to developing countries. There are also direct tangible benefits to the Dutch society. This should be demonstrated by showing the number of Dutch people employed in the development aid sector, value of contracts awarded to Dutch businesses from the development aid budget and how Dutch aid is helping in securing some strategic geo-political interests of the Netherlands.
Many people in Netherlands are not against development aid per se but they are against corruption where dictators end abusing the money. This should be addressed through new aid distribution channels that goes straight to beneficiaries rather than through corrupt regimes like for example through credible NGOs
I would like to hear from the Voice Over members what kind of debate is underway in response to aid? What impact, if any has the recent cuts in the North have on beneficiaries? Are there any coping strategies that the beneficiaries have adopted in their countries to survive with reduced support?
Regards
Garikai Chimuka
The struggle continues unabated!!Defeat is not on the agenda!!
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Madhawi s. Ramdin
3 posts Location:
Paramaribo
Suriname |
28-01-2012 00:59 Re: Pen Pals Hey Gari,
Good to c u again, even if its online.
I agree with most points u make, and would like to add the saying in my country: 'don't give them a fish, but teach them how to fish'. The North should teach the Southern recipients to fish, in order to make them self-sufficient and able to balance their budgets.
Together we achieve more !
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View profile Ezekiel Katato
41 posts Location:
Kajiado
Kenya |
01-02-2012 11:58 Re: Pen Pals This has always been the truth. No country can ever develop because of AID alone regardless of the amount received. We need to see more investments, fair and equal trade opportunities.
Works directly with rural communities for empowerment, livelihood improvement, Peace, Promoting culture and Cultural tourism
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