Site update & Africa: Sink or Swim?

Site right now is at a low-point. Peace Corps studies indicate that around the year mark, volunteers experience a low-point of their service. They reflect and try to imagine the future and become discourage. This is also the period with a considerable number of early terminations. Nonetheless, I am "that" volunteer. I really feel as if I haven't done much the past year. I've been working with my women's association, and well that has reach the end of its road. The women are no longer interested in meeting or being an association. Everyone is thinking about themselves. From August to November, I tried to have three meetings with the women's association, and only the president and vice-president showed up. The women rejected my final income generating activity (sweet, crusted shell peanut making) and well, I'm out of ideas. They're only interested in Basin-making (Malian fabric), but do not want to meet so we can continue. I don't know what else to do.

My kindergarten project is not raising nearly enough money. I've sent out information to referrals and have been trying to contact my sorority and local newspapers in order to get the word out. I really need exposure brought to my project b/c it is an excellent project w/ a good cause, that is determine to aid a lot of students. But also w/ that, where else can I go? Even more disappointing, the community will not have their portion of project contribution. I'm hoping something with that turns around by late February.

Right now I'm in Bamako for Christmas and going back to Koutiala (my banking/market town) to celebrate New Year's. I wanted to be in the capital for that, but staying here requires too much money, and well after 3 days, I'm already broke. I really wanted to see everyone though. It's been a while since a group of volunteers got together.

I was reading this article entitle, "The Pitfalls of Africa's Aid Addiction" and it made an interesting case against Africa's aid. The article captured individual examples of how aid has force the continent to stay dependent on foreign resources, and not demanding more from citizens within. It also brings into question the intent of those who donate to Africa, which tend to alienate African citizens. I thought the article was well-written and expressed considerable points, but now the thought-process stimulated from the article is what's the next move? The article opened with a saying, "A fool at 40 is a fool forever," and most African countries have now been independent for over 40 years and statistics show not much have change w/ the aid since independence. The first paragraph concludes w/ a question: Since foreign aid has failed to lift Africa out of poverty, could corruption be the reason? I won't go into corruption in Africa, but that question made me think; If aid has failed Africa, do we STOP giving aid? What would happen if that took place? Africa would no doubt suffer. Things would worsen dramatically, but for how long? This would definitely be a sink or swim scenario. A drastic effect could force Africans to pull themselves up by their boot-straps and get themselves out of poverty. It would increase individual independence, motivate African citizens and African governments to always have the best interest of their citizens in mind.

After spending so much time here, my views too have changed on Africa. I no longer believe that anything is wrong with Africa, and being here has made me more resistant to give. The idea of "aide" has settled in the minds of many Africans. They expect so much from people. Not giving is not an option, and if you don't give, well, there are a list of names for you. I can't exactly understand it. Part of me thinks it's because the African society is very communal and one shares everything, but part of me thinks, it's because so many citizens are so used to handouts and donations that it has become expected. Many Peace Corps Volunteers feel that way-that most Malians only want something with minimal effort. It's another thing that discourages us, but it does force one to question the definition and purpose of aid.

The purpose of aid, obviously, is to help someone. But who determines that help? The helper might asses the situation and deem this person in need of assistance, or the helpee might ask the helper because that person is bigger, stronger, and has something that he/she wants. In terms of the West vs Africa, there is much Africa is lacking, but in terms of the West and the developing world, that would mean there's much the REST of the world is lacking. There are more under/undeveloped countries than developed ones, but the notion of superiority and have and have nots float continuously throughout the globe, forcing those lacking to consider themselves the problem of disadvantage economics equation instead of turning that notion around, and considering that those who benefit rather well from this equation have too much. When I say there's nothing wrong w/ Africa, I mean in relation to the rest of the world. What is here is how 2/3 of the world live: w/out elaborate infrastructure, low social indicators, and mediocre to substandard GDP factors. These things can change overtime and more likely will if done at its own pace and not w/ the outpouring of an international aid supply.