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Over the last two decades, there have been a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa working with the poor people in the name of alleviating poverty. The have done quite a lot of good, especially in the northern part of the country, where they assist people in drought-stricken areas through a strategy the development agents call disaster response and management. Yet these communities are becoming increasingly poor. This brings into question of what might be the problem.
I realise that the development agents are increasingly making the disaster-prone areas more and more dependent. The locals, in spite of the dramatic changes in climate, have known how to adapt themselves to the situation and live effectively. If the external agents will not take their time to learn from these communities in order to adopt their way and build on it, they can bring all kinds of methodologies of managing the disasters, but as long as the policies don't begin with the people, the improvement cannot last.
Another issue is that, development agents assume the uneducated are unable to be development partners of their own. For that reason, the locals are sidelined in projects meant to help them. They remain passive and conditioned only to receive. That is why after the development agents leave, many of the projects collapse. Participation, capacity building and empowerment of the locals to determine what their priorities are in development, identifying the means within their reach to attain these goals, and training in simple skills of planning, implementing and evaluating their projects will be necessary in Kenya if NGOs want to achieve long lasting impact in their endeavors.
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Writer Profile
Dennis Nyakundi Onguti
I am the sixth of eight children of a polygamous family. After graduating from high school, I was asked to help in a local girls secondary school teaching mathematics after the death of the teacher. This time was exciting and it was then that I had an opportunity to see my own potential and those of the young people. I realised encouragement and the availability of resources can unleash the inner strength of the young to do great things and I promised to dedicate myself to the service of the young. In 1999, I entered into a religious missionary congregation of the Consolata with the intention of becoming a priest so I can reach young people all over the world.
I finished my first degree in philosophy in 2003 with a diploma in religious studies. I took a one year break to one of the provinces for one year helping the young people to develop micro-scale business. It was really a beautiful experience!
I am currently pursuing a degree in Religious studies and a diploma in Youth Ministry.
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Comments
Stephen O. Silas | May 31st, 2007
You can imaging if the NGOs were not existing at all, what will have happen to the growth of poverty in the world, the NGOs are the one trying a lot now, I always believer that when it comes to poverty no one to be blame, we can only as individual refuse to accept it, that is why i always said to my folks no matter what, they never wait for some one or government to come and help them achieve what they want to achieve on this earth, every one has his/her on tax to face and take care of. the only thing i will say to advice the NGOs, development agent, government and the individuals is that when ever we find ourselves in the position to help the poor masses we should please do it, try every thing to amend any holes of poverty no matter how small it is. i think with this we will all smile and the world will be a better place.
Silas Stephen Odah
Feed The Youth Action (FYA)
fyanig@yahoo.com
www.feedtheyouthaaction.tk
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