I have just watched this inspiring TED talk about how people living in slums need to be involved in finding solutions to their accommodation problems. This is a wonderful example of community participation in decision-making. There are deep underlying lessons here that are applicable in standing alongside those who are poor in encouraging their empowerment. It is so important that the ‘professionals’ are not arrogant in thinking they know best, a basic principle of Participatory Learning and Action, and other development techniques to involve people in decision making.
As I watched I was reminded of the amazing breakthrough my friend Angela Kemm made in 1993/4 in helping people living in the Khayelitsha slum outside Cape Town to be empowered to lobby government and receive the first post-apartheid government grant which resulted in 650 new dwellings. (Click on picture)
…and of Donna Bloomfield’s work in Burundi empowering people by training them to train others in the principles of Foundations for Farming. (Click on picture)
…and here is a sample of the harvest gathered on Monday this week!
On February 10th Donna wrote from Burundi
“We harvested today & celebrated what God is doing among us. Lives are changing! It’s six years ago that we first met our friends in the camp with no hope, just despair. Now they truly can see a future for themselves and their families although, in reality, we all recognise there’s a way to go yet.
“The smiles don’t reveal their appalling living conditions or the daily hardships.
“Our friends are truly inspirational. Some walk for over 2 hours to reach this site, convinced that this way of farming will lift them from poverty. Sadly, this harvest was 50% less than we’d hoped for due to severe flooding earlier in the season, causing retarded growth of some of the maize cobs, but it’s still around 3 x more than the usual yields for Burundi. We thank God for this!
“Next week the trainees will make raised beds ready for planting next season to try and prevent this loss again”.
Thank you all, and the many many other friends I have who love those who are poor or in need and take practical steps to empower them.
On their behalf, THANK YOU!
