I’ve come to a fork in the road as a photographer. I no longer want to shoot just for the sake of the images. I love a great photograph, and I could happily wander in search of moments to capture; and some great photographers have worked that way. But now I want to dig in and discover, learning and telling stories with real people.

These aren’t original thoughts, just a pause to say where I’m at. Now is the time (as always) to find something worth doing, take a risk, and do it well. The tragedy (as always) is to choose safety or familiarity and leave a better road untried.

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We love to use the words “partner” and “partnership” in cross-cultural and development work, but do people on the other side feel like partners or means to an end? Do we really want partners, or do we want locals to help translate and implement our ideas and projects? We need to honestly ask.

If that catches your attention, see what Vinoth Ramachandra wrote this week.  He’s writing about Christian mission,  but it’s a short step to apply these thoughts to development work as well. Here’s something to wet your taste.

It is troubling that mission has been reduced to what we (the relatively well-off) do in other cultures and places, and does not seem to apply to what the poor can do for us and what we can do for them where we are. Those who live in the poorer South are constantly at the receiving end of “packaged” gospels, discipleship courses, leadership seminars, church-growth “gurus”, even sermons and “worship” DVDs from rich churches abroad. The latter have no desire to learn from others and, ironically, have little impact in their own societies…..

“Partnership” has been a buzz-word…cynics will say that it is simply a disguise for neo-colonial mission. Like “development” and “empowerment”, the gulf between the rhetoric and actual practice is enormous. Foreign organizations divert people as well as funds away from locally-initiated projects and ministries… Local staff are…merely the people who implement the programs started and funded by foreigners…

The problem is that what is “sexy” to donors in the U.S is often far removed from the real needs in the countries concerned. That some American donors may want to be educated does not seem to register on the thinking of local leaders.

We often turn to Western writers and intellectuals for guidance. But wise men and women in the Global South, like Vinoth Ramachandra, in Sri Lanka, are reduced to requesting an audience. If we listened to people like him more, and sought them out, we’d be better off.

Read his book to learn more, Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping Our World. I just added it to my “wish list” at Amazon. It’s a scholarly work, not for everyone.  There are no reader reviews, but Stanley Hauerwas says, “I have read few books from which I have learned more.” That’s enough for me.

Vinoth Ramachandra, like the authors I referenced yesterday, writes from a Christian perspective about Christian mission and development work. Even more than yesterday’s authors, I think both Christians and non-Christians will value what he has to say.

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I’ve been reading When Helping Hurts, a book about how many international aid and development efforts end up harming the recipients.

This isn’t a new idea, but I think this is the first book to address the issue from a Christian perspective. Christians play a huge role in relief and development work around the world and in their home countries, mostly with the best of intentions, but the sad truth exposed in this book is that many of their efforts have more negative effects than positive ones. The positive message is that we can do better and be part of genuine development and change; but it’s not going to be quick or easy.

[Update: To be clear, negative effects are an issue across the board, not just in Christian aid efforts.]

I had a conversation once with someone who asked why I would criticize well-meaning people. My short answer: Because they hurt other people. I think people who really have good intentions want to know this and change course.

But how can this be? How can professional agencies created to help people in need become complicit in their suffering and injustice? How can a caring student in Texas start a project for AIDS orphans in Africa (or for poor immigrants in her local community) that does more harm than good? Read the book to find out.

Here is one way to understand the problem (that I read about here): Who are the clients of international relief and development agencies? Who do they have to please? Who are they accountable to? Donors!

The donors are the de facto clients. But in almost all cases, the donors are too far away to see the results themselves, so they get stories and pictures carefully prepared by the agencies they support (paid for with the money they gave).  Now if the donors are happy, it really doesn’t make a difference in economic terms whether aid recipients benefit or not.

Of course, it would make sense to have aid recipients participate in solving their own problems, put them in positions of authority, and let them hold aid organizations accountable. It would also make sense to have relationships in local communities and learn about their capacities and how to support them before showing up with pre-packaged solutions–what this book calls “McDevelopment.”  These simple steps would change international aid from the inside out, both in its organizational or grassroots forms.

But these steps are inconvenient. Building relationships takes time and it’s messy. Changes in the aid industry would probably cost jobs and alter careers. Using money to fund projects according to formulas is easy, fast, and safe.

Imagine with me, MegaAid Organization has to spend their budget this year. Time is running out, and they need proposals they can fund and launch quickly. Not to mention, Angelina Jolie is scheduled to do an appearance in two weeks, and they need a fresh project to show. Alternatively, Joe and his friends want to help the poor somewhere. They can a) go build a house for poor people in Mexico, b) collect used sneakers to ship to Africa, or c) go to Haiti for two weeks as volunteers. They are giving up their vacations for this and want to really make a difference.

In both of the cases above, what is the role of the poor in the process? Where is their voice in the planning? Who asks them what they want? In order to change anything in a lasting way, the poor must take charge of their own solutions at some point, but when? But often they are treated as passive recipients, and the system works better if they stay that way.

These questions cut to the heart of what I’m doing here. I am in Cambodia to make a difference, but I know real change must emerge from Cambodians themselves. Will I learn the language so I can build good relationships? Will I trust Cambodian leaders and make genuine partners? Will I refuse to take roles that would validate my own ego, status, and career so Cambodians can take those roles and shine instead? Will I accept that lasting changes happen slowly and resist speeding up (and ruining) the process?

The truth is that people with power almost never give it up. We always see ways to maintain control, even without making it obvious. At the end of the day, most of us help ourselves first (our egos, families, and futures), and then we help the other guy.

Acting differently, whether as individuals or organizations, really does require costly changes from the inside out.

Again, the book is When Helping Hurts. It’s a Christian perspective that draws from the Bible and Jesus’ teaching about justice and the Kingdom of God. If you’re a Christian, I strongly recommend it.

If you’re not a Christian, I sympathize with any cynicism you may have about Christian justice and compassion. You’d be surprised how many followers of Jesus, who may or may not identify with the religion, would agree. Many followers of Jesus understand that justice and faith and love go hand in hand or don’t go anywhere at all; and many are working on the hard, practical questions of how to live this out, not just in words or programs but in reality.

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We’ve been in Phnom Penh for two months, and I’ve barely picked up my camera or felt the urge to write. I have enough on my plate, and there is so much to learn.

During September we hosted a group from Japan who came through Project Friends. We had a great time with them, and they returned to Japan changed people (if they continue what they started here). We also welcomed our first intern. She’s out in Takeo Province now doing well. I’m sure she handled that welcoming party of lice by now…

After the water fight

I’ll be focused on language learning for the next few months, and I hope to do some of that with camera in hand. My camera, used with intention, is a good tool for engaging with people. I’m looking into potential projects and people I can work with on them.

The group from Japan had lots of energy. Once we went them into our local market to buy eggs, and a vendor was overheard saying, “Aren’t Japanese people supposed to be quiet?” Not always! Here is a video slide show of their experience here.

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On Friday we chose a place to live — a telavang – a tall, narrow apartment (or townhouse), three stories high with a  rooftop suitable for an urban garden. It’s a concrete box with high ceilings and smooth tile underfoot. It was cool inside as we entered, a good sign that it’s lined up to avoid direct sun. The “quiet” street outside is lined with similar apartments on both sides. It ends at a wall, so cars can’t pass through. A few children played outside. The street is wide, creating a community space that feels open and inviting: room to make friends, laugh, play, and bounce thoughts and prayers outward and upward.

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