Keeping Africa Small

it makes me angry and at the same time really sad that despite the number of NGOs, despite the amount of programs no big difference takes place. obviously things need time to develop but there seem to be a wrong attitude on a basic level. people in Africa are not of some other category and should not be treated in a patronizing way. the best thing we can and should do is to acknowledge this, change our attitude instead of demonizing this 'poor, uneducated, undeveloped continent' and give them a fair chance to realize their human potential.

Great pod and, as elfie said, the African perspective is greatly appreciated.

There are thousands of NGOs out there, one would think that by now world poverty would be lessened even slightly................... but this is not the case.

I have personally seen how NGOs work. In many cases NGOs do not understand the real needs of Africans. In other cases a lot of money donated goes into buying expensive 4 by 4s and building extravagant headquarters (used by the NGOs themselves)........

The only way forward is to integrate into the communities, understand their needs and requirements and then take action.

I'm all in favour of Africans of having their say and it is disgraceful when NGOs impose their own agenda.

But what is the answer?
How will water get pumped to a village?
What is wrong with a rope pump?
Is there another solution?

I have been offering for years ways for Africans to power pumps, radios, TVs etc but most are not interested!
Many are expecting funds to flow to them without making the effort to plan a project.

As an African wrote recently about better stoves,
"Africans generally tend to resist change from the generally accepted. Despite the amazing energy savings in the new stove designs, I doubt any definite impact, as except from those nugded by NGOs backed with international funding, will be made with these wonderful designs expect some certain conditions(which I will later list), are dutifully followed.!

If you want to know more visit http://biodesign.webeden.co.uk or email me at biodes@bigfoot.com.

Graham

exactly they know what they actually need!!!

...very cool and interesting!
We need to listen to people well..they know what they need.

i can't help but get upset when watching this. i'm not a fan of NGOs, and sometimes i think they are the physical manifestation of white guilt. white guilt is unproductive and unattractive in many ways, and to me reinforces racist beliefs. African countries are being exploited for their resources. the historical and contemporary ramifications of this exploitation is what has led to the downfall of these countries which should be superpowers. everyone owns their resources except the countries themselves. then there's the issue of government corruption which is rife. the diamonds in South Africa, Angola, so on and so forth, should belong to those countries and not DeBeers. the minerals which are mined in the Congo that make their way into our cell phones and computers should belong to the Congo. give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever.

It's lovely to have seen this pod develop from its humble origins on YouTube to be the concise, informative, progressive and empowering (per Africans) pod it has now become - thanks Ceri & the WorldWrite team!

it's shameful to think that the governments solution to ghanaians in reference to them getting clean and safe drinking water is for them to rig up some sort of bicycle roap system. NGO should stop thinking that they are thinking so small.

this short documentry is great adn very informative, theres lots of truthful points here. and by the way i like it 100% not 63%. it's powerful.

Very interesting piece of document

Thank you for this pod I truly appreciate the African view, which is almost NEVER expressed......