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NGOs Unwrapped

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From small scale projects to HIV/AIDS programmes NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) charities and aid agencies are everywhere in the developing world. They are all the rage in the West too, and are seen as the good people who want to save Africa. But, however well meaning NGOs may be, their programmes often get up the noses of everyone, from African fishermen to shanty town inhabitants. Their idea of improving people?s lives by promoting the basics only are a far cry from the aspirations of those they seek to help. Serious development and growth is definitely not in the NGO dictionary. Shot in Ghana, Godbless, Waffa, Deroy and local fishermen and women are articulate and angry. They loathe the peanuts offered and sanctimonious lessons in good behaviour. They want industry, jobs and material advancement and for NGOs and aid agencies to stop treating them like children. As Godbless tells us: ?Africans have big brains, big aspirations?.and want to live in liberty.?
worldwrite

60 responses // NGOs Unwrapped

  • This is important I do think NGOs and charities should think more about what the people they are helping want not just what suits their own programmes. The bit about an NGO asking the women to cry is astonishing and I do like the African guys laughing as you never see this plus who is that awful women who thinks its OK to be stagnant. Great hope it gets broadcast more of this please.
    SarahKelly
  • I totally understand where these people are coming from, cos i'm from Kenya. The situation is the same for the whole of Africa. What these NGOs are trying to do is just provide us with the basics? Why can't we have what the West have? The mistake they make is that they only intervene on programmes they deem to be "relevant"...it doesn't really matter what Africans want. This has to change...Africans can make things work provided they have the right resources.
    angie86
  • Obviouely we have to give it a greenlight ourselves as we think it should be shown...the WORLDwrite crew !
    worldwrite
  • Great Video!
    runeg
  • Show it!
    djnolan
  • Cringe making stuff. Like many of us i kinda of assumed NGOs were listening and helping people but it turns out they are just dumping crap on people who, because of their situation, can't say no. This film is going to cause a lot of arguments, it certainly made me sit up and think. Needs to be shown on tv as this is the first i have heard of such shannigans!
    Ghelani
  • V. thought provoking. Makes a change to hear from the Africans directly.
    BrenC
  • Maybe this show better what NGOs do in Africa and how they do.
    devojkarla
  • fascinating--this is a story that people need to hear
    njfrayn
  • I think this is a refreshing look at an often one-sidded issue. I mean would people in the West settle for such low horizons?

    I think this should def be broadcast it's a debate that needs to be opened up, and an industry that needs to be accountable to the people it 'helps' - not the world bank et al.
    athpap
  • this is excellent and so refreshing to hear what Ghanaians actually want and not assume we in the west know best.
    esme
  • really good - a real eye-opener. i loved your last 2 pods, and while this isn't quite as good it's still a great pod - greenlight from me!
    adamhunt
  • Very thought provoking film. It was interesting to hear a point of view not often put across.
    edturner
  • This is WORLDwrite at their best, calling into question western agendas in the developing world and making us think about the role of NGOs 'over there'. We need more of this kind of thing on TV, so yes please, give us more!
    doctorhewett
  • What an important film! High time we saw an african voice represented in the 'Development Debate' - let us have more!
    scattyrara
  • Put it on show
    bernhard
  • This film needs to be seen by as many people as possible.
    Jo
    jo12
  • More! More! We want more!
    helly
  • Great video...please put it on TV! It's so important for as many people as possible to see this.
    czechia
  • I really like it. It would be great to see an NGO Rep faced with the challenge that they are not democratically elected.
    Good work!
    philleus
  • Great stuff. A refreshingly straightforward view.
    Zernager
  • really excellent. good to see things from a different point of view
    Heartfield
  • We always need to be challenged and anything that mkes you think about things ina different way is refreshing and brilliant.
    Risha
  • enter your post hereIt was fab - I'm glad someone has finally highlighted this important topic> well done.
    smw
  • This is really really good. I love this. Also your footage is Amazing.
    -----------------------------------------------------
    If you have time could you check out my work and give me some suggestions on making it better and a possible Green Light. Thanks.
    <a href=" http://www.current.tv/watch/65947332">link</...
    chrispmonkey
  • enter your post here
    sadhavi
  • It's so refreshing to see a doc that doesn't presume Africans are so feeble minded that they don't have their own reflections on their encounter with international charites. This doc gets nearer to the truth than all the polished well funded pity docs that show Africa as a basket case. Please show it
    RedDevil
  • nice, i liked it, GL

    feel free to check out my pod here <a href=" http://uk.current.com/watch/76485582?s1=topVids&lis...

    and GL if you like it

    keep the good work up
    shane.
    shanechapman
  • very refreshing viewpoint
    jason17
  • This is typicla of what we have to put up with from international NGOs in Africa. 'Sustainability' means sustaining Africans at poverty levels. We want what people in the North have had for generations.
    grinker
  • exellent critical piece asking questions that too many are afraid to ask.
    JohnConroy
  • This video is like a breath of fresh air. It amazes me that in 2007 some people still want to deny Africans the things we take for granted. And worse than that Africans are still treated as children who don't know what they want and can't be trusted to know what's good for them or to behave properly.
    Jean2007
  • we need to hear more of this kind
    bnlotz
  • would like to see more of this
    dotoole
  • Very good - message gets through, well -produced.
    keviny
  • This is an interesting spot. I had a very different experience when I visited Ghana earlier this year. I'm not sure how I feel about it? I'm green lighting this because it is thought provoking and well done, but to be honest I don't know if I agree with it? If you get a chance please check out my film and the NGO I worked with www.gologitude.org please let me know what you think. <a href=" http://www.current.tv/watch/33512311?list=newVidsByProd...
    John L
    devlomedia
  • this is an angle not currently seen and must be voiced.
    bobkbob
  • Well we are totally biased as a some of us helped a bit with this pod, only in saying what we thought at the edit stage not the filming- we'd have liked to mind you. IWe think its WORLDwrite's best short yet as most challenging. We are working on the next one on trust so hey hey not long before we will' be up there as well. Meanwhile hope this stirs some debate.....
    VolunteerCrew
  • A refreshingly honest perspective!
    nixtone
  • I'm currently working on a documentary in Central Africa on the topic too - more from a "job creation can never be a bad thing in Africa" argument...would be interesting to talk more in future...
    follicle
  • Very thought provoking. Refreshing to have such a perspective aired.
    JaneS
  • A very different take. A viewpoint that should be heard.
    marcusg
  • Will be forwarding this on to a number of friends working for NGOs. Thanks for your honest and eye opening research and filmmaking. Looking forward to seeing more.
    mwigg
  • Good challenging stuff, everyone except Africans seem to get a voice on what goes in their countries. It really does get tiresome. The basic obsession is also very telling no one can really see this as a strategy maybe this is all people in the west think can be done but why campaign for so little why not go for the works and get what you can along the way ? Hope it gets broadcast Good luck with this
    rumplestiltskin
  • A complex and oft-unheard message squeezed out in a revalation-packed 7 minute film. This doc needs to be seen: pass it on.