WCDP and Social Networking

It has been a while since I have posted on the WCDP blog. This is a way of provding an update and informing about the projects we have been working on.


We have, for the past 4 years, been providing micro credit loans to women in Uganda. Currently we have provided nearly $10,000 in loans to almost 100 women over the course of 7 loan cycles. We have had over 99% of the loans repaid without default.


In February 2011 we initiated a pilot project providing micro loans to youths (age 17-27) in the same communities where our women's loan program operates. We started small with less than $400 in loans for 8 different individual or group projects. Each youth is provided with guidance counseling, mentoring and must find a loan guarantor.


We have also joined the social networking world with a twitter account: @tweetWCDP; we are on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wcdpfb; and flickr: http://www.flickr.com/wcdpus. You can also search for us on Linked In.

Technology Competition

Another brainstorm... seeking feedback

How about holding a national competition to produce certain technologies, such as sustainable water pumps; wind, water or solar power generators, etc. The participants would be college and university students, and the reward would be an opportunity to mass produce their inventions for use throughout the country. This way we can build capacity and produce technology locally that can be used in community development projects that we are involved in throughout the country.

We could hold a similar competition for business development, perhaps around the different technologies.

Thoughts? Please???

John

I see the light

First of all, I want to urge everyone to order the No-Nonsense Guides (to World Poverty, Globalization and International Development, in the very least). Mind blowing and eye-opening stuff.

I have seen that Development=Globalization=Capitalism=Neo-Colonialism=Imperialism.

Lets see what dictionary.com says about these terms:

development
1. The act of developing.
2. The state of being developed.
3. A significant event, occurrence, or change.
4. A group of dwellings built by the same contractor.
5. Determination of the best techniques for applying a new device or process to production of goods or services.

globalization
1. To make global or worldwide in scope or application.
2. growth to a global or worldwide scale; "the globalization of the communication industry"

neo-colonialism
A policy whereby a major power uses economic and political means to perpetuate or extend its influence over underdeveloped nations or areas: “Strong elements of neocolonialism persist in the economic relations of the rich and poor countries” (Scientific American).

capitalism
An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.

imperialism
1. The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.
2. The system, policies, or practices of such a government

neo-colonialism
A policy whereby a major power uses economic and political means to perpetuate or extend its influence over underdeveloped nations or areas: “Strong elements of neocolonialism persist in the economic relations of the rich and poor countries” (Scientific American).

In light of this, I am a bit concerned, and wondering if perhaps the word "development" is still appropriate for our organization. I would greatly appreciate input from the African members of this group on your perspectives.

Peace

Economic Development and Maslow's Hierarchy

In reading "The No-Nonsense Guide to World Poverty" I am learning a little about why development fails, and poverty persists. When a person's most basic needs -food, water, shelter, security- are not being met, it is difficult for them to consider anything beyond obtaining obtaining those needs. The book quotes a woman who says the poor have no future. They only have today and the days they have passed. Of course, if you are not sure whether you will survive this day, it becomes difficult to imagine planning for, saving for a tomorrow. Why would you save anything for tomorrow, when you might need it to get through today?

Therefore, once again, it is clear that we must focus our initial efforts on meeting basic needs. Perhaps, a preliminary quick assessment is needed in the community to determine the level of basic needs being met. This, before a more comprehensive study. Thus, our program strategy might look more like this:

Phase I: Quick assessment of basic needs
Phase II: Address basic needs (food, shelter, clean water, security)
Phase III: Comprehensive community assessment
Phase IV: Develop community development plan, working with the community members, based on their vision
Phase IV: Implement community development plan

Our approach should, perhaps, be based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...

















Or, as described slightly differently, on the web:

Physiological Needs
These are biological needs. They consist of needs for oxygen, food, water, and a relatively constant body temperature. They are the strongest needs because if a person were deprived of all needs, the physiological ones would come first in the person's search for satisfaction.

Safety Needs
When all physiological needs are satisfied and are no longer controlling thoughts and behaviors, the needs for security can become active. Adults have little awareness of their security needs except in times of emergency or periods of disorganization in the social structure (such as widespread rioting). Children often display the signs of insecurity and the need to be safe.

Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness
When the needs for safety and for physiological well-being are satisfied, the next class of needs for love, affection and belongingness can emerge. Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. This involves both giving and receiving love, affection and the sense of belonging.

Needs for Esteem
When the first three classes of needs are satisfied, the needs for esteem can become dominant. These involve needs for both self-esteem and for the esteem a person gets from others. Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-confident and valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.

Needs for Self-Actualization
When all of the foregoing needs are satisfied, then and only then are the needs for self-actualization activated. Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be and do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, and a poet must write." These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness. The person feels on edge, tense, lacking something, in short, restless. If a person is hungry, unsafe, not loved or accepted, or lacking self-esteem, it is very easy to know what the person is restless about. It is not always clear what a person wants when there is a need for self-actualization.

By following Maslow's Hierarchy, we would start with meeting the most basic needs: food and water. After that, we would focus on shelter, health and security. Hopefully, by this point, the need for love will begin to develop on its own, without our assistance. But, of course we can also find ways to meet this need as well. Then, by working together to build a stronger community, they will begin to build esteem and a sense of belonging... belonging to a community. Self-actualization will be encouraged through our work on helping people find and achieve their dreams.

Program Summary

I can see us operating in a series of phases:

Phase I: Community Evaluation
Phase II: Address basic needs (food, shelter, clean water, sanitation)
Phase III: Develop community development plan, working with the community members, based on their vision
Phase IV: Implement community development plan

Of course our Five core areas are still relevant, but they may not need to be stated explicitly. I would also propose renaming the Business Development core (AKA Commerce and Industry). This, I have come to realize, is based upon the Western (American) cultural norm to want more things, money, etc. Rather than push this on others, let them decide what they want their lives to be like, how they want them improved. I am not sure what to call this... any ideas?

Your thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Peace