Language Matters
Would you “adopt” a village in Ethiopia? A new blogger and myself discuss how language matters within aid relationships.
Would you “adopt” a village in Ethiopia? A new blogger and myself discuss how language matters within aid relationships.
“If your general impression [is that most grassroots organizations are incapacitated], then you’ve been driving a white SUV through a village to get the ‘authentic’ feel of some project.” ~Marc Maxson of GlobalGiving’s Storytelling Project
“Half the stories of community change are not about NGOs at all, but individuals. It’s time NGOs realized they’re not the center of the community, and figured out how to work with the individuals who are.” ~from my interview with Marc Maxson of GlobalGiving’s Storytelling Project
What would the marketing gurus tell local organizations about improving their image to stimulate demand for their services among international donors? What would you?
“NGOs tend to view CBOs in two ways: with suspicion and mistrust on the one hand, and as instruments for community organising and project implementation on the other.” Excerpt from a paper by Samuel Maruta, Southern Institute of Peace-building and Development, Zimbabwe.