Principles for really helping

Today I sat in on part of a training on responding to emergencies for people from three villages where Caritas Santa Rosa has a project.

The two facilitators work on responses to disasters and emergency through a local coalition of non-governmental organizations, ASONOG.

As Carlos spoke, I was struck by five basic principles he noted for responding to emergencies and disasters:

            Don’t prolong conflicts or cause harm

            Respect the culture and customs

            Promote the local capacities

            Coordinate efforts to maximize the benefits

            Take into account gender differences

I have been very concerned in the last few years in the appropriateness of aid here as well as some “missions” that come here. Some of these principles speak directly to my concerns.

The first one, “don’t prolong conflicts or cause harm,” is basic. In our situation here, any aid that plays on political or religious differences has disastrous effects. Here many politicians try to utilize aid for partisan purposes, showing up when aid come or when the foreigners come to help. This doesn’t help build reconciliation in a very divided society.

The second, “Respect the culture and customs,” is critical. One of the problems as the world gets more globalized is the importation of US-style consumerism. When groups come with their first world props it’s important to be culturally sensitive and not set up expectation. Can we respect the people’s culture? Put more emphasis here on personal relations more than efficiency. That can be frustrating. (I know) Also, I wonder how many of the fundamentalist groups that come and hope to “save” Hondurans ever considered that they might already be disciples of Christ – Catholic Christians. (Excuse my peevishness.)

when he spoke of this principle the speaker talked about sending trash from the US (used clothes), or shoes sizes 12 and 13, or winter clothes for people who live in places like Choluteca which are extremely hot. I clapped in appreciation.

The third principle is central: “Promote the local capabilities.” Some people come and act as if these people and stupid. They are not. They often don’t have a lot of what come people consider necessary. But there is a lot of wisdom among illiterate campesinos as I have often experienced. In addition, there are great capabilities among the people. The three communities represented in the workshop have done some amazing projects – with help – but with their input. And the people participating in this workshop and in yesterday’s workshop on financial administration are capable. I spoke to one group that included a man in his early fifties who had 6 months of school but the others (including a high school graduate and a young guy in first year of high school) told me that he was a genius in math! I was moved, partly because my dad never went to high school but he got an office job because he was a math genius. I proudly shared that with them.

The fourth is easy to violate: Coordinate efforts to maximize the benefits. This is often the case with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who multiply projects in areas and compete for participants with other NGOs. But I read a while ago about a case where  about ten years ago several medical brigades went to an area and vaccinated kids – several times over. They probably did not think about coordinating with the local health clinics.

The fifth is probably not as relevant to the groups I’m thinking about but it is important not to neglect women.

One of the ways I saw this happen – without planning – was with the first immersion group from St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames that came in March 2008. We went one morning to the rural village of Plan Grande which was building a new church. (Note: it was their project which they were financing; we were accompanying their work.)

Our group – four women, one guy, and myself – arrived with Padre Efraín. Men and boys were working digging the church foundations, bringing large rocks for the foundation, and mixing and pouring cement. Our group arrive and all except one woman who was sick started to help. Padre Efraín, Mitch, and three young women (Nora, Katie, and Marla) started carrying rocks for the foundation. Within thirty minutes the little girls of Plan Grande were grabbing rocks and carrying them for the foundations. The young women interacted with the women. .  Nora who spoke Spanish spent time talking with a few girls. The men were amazed at Marla’s strength; she grew up on a farm. I say that this was a small step for the little girls of Plan Grande which was above all respectful but which didn’t let macho attitude get in the way of respect for all. I return often to Plan Grande and they remember that day well.

Katie and some young girls carrying rocks

Nora talking with some older girls

Marla at work

There are other principles for bringing aid that could be added but I found these five very helpful. And so I’ll continue reflecting on how we outsiders can be here and accompany the people in their struggles for a more just world.

Gifts for Honduras

Happy Fourth of July!

Now for some fireworks. 

I expect that this entry will be controversial because what I say may seem to be attacking sacred cows.

But I am concerned about what some people want to give to people here and I am not sure how to respond well.

Many people are generous and, face to face with poverty, want to help.

A number of people ask me what they can bring or send to help people here in Honduras?

The obvious answer is money. But many people want to send something tangible.

So people think of collecting stuff to send. And so the poor in Honduras are offered clothes, shoes, school supplies, hygiene products and much more. God knows how much material comes here, especially with more than 50,000 coming here on “mission” trips.

But is there something wrong with this? Does this really help? Or is it just a band-aid or worse, something that has unforeseen negative consequences? Does this type of giving really keep the cycle of poverty going?

What do you think?

This is not a rhetorical question? I’d like to start a conversation on this. I have more questions than answers, as you’ll see below. But I think it’s essential that we ask the questions.

I’ll start by offering my ideas – based on my experience of five years here in Honduras and years of working with service projects in the US as well as immersion trips to places in the US and in Central America.

There are a number of issues to consider.

First of all, what kinds of gifts?

Some questionable gifts:

• Used clothes: Are the clothes appropriate for the climate and the culture? Are they really good quality or just cast-offs? Do they undercut the local economy?
• Copybooks for kids: They are just too heavy to bring and usually they are not the size or the type that are used in the schools here.

Some mixed gifts:

• Shoes: Are they appropriate for the climate and the culture? Are they new? Do they undercut the local economy?
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste: Bringing toothbrushes, especially if connected with a country-based dental hygiene project and coordinated with community health leaders, can be helpful. Toothpaste is expensive and it is much better to insure that the people know how to make a use inexpensive alternatives (e.g., salt and bicarbonate of soda). Those who bring the gifts should make sure that people in the community show how to use the toothbrushes.

Some possibly better ideas:

• Pencils, distributed by catechists or school teachers.
• Tools or parts for agriculture, electrical work, or construction that are not readily available here. 
• Stickers: A kindergarten teacher is always asking me for stickers for her kids. They are inexpensive in the US and are hard to find here.
• Symbolic gifts to those who host a group are, I believe, appropriate. For example, an apron for the cook, a mug with the insignia of the church for a host family.
  
  Notes:
  
  • Buying things in country is often better than bringing them down. It also helps the local economy.
  • The gifts should most often be distributed by local leaders - a community health worker, a catechist or school teacher, but not by politicians nor by the visiting group. This shows respect for local leadership.

       What are other ideas about the types of gifts?

Secondly, the gifts should be in response to requests from the people.

• Do the people really need something – or are the requests coming from leaders?
• Is this in response to a real need or a need that people outside the community perceive to be a need?

Thirdly, what is the purpose of giving?

• Is it to make the givers feel good, feel that they can do something in the face of poverty?
• Is it to help the community go forward in its own, locally developed projects to transform their communities?
• Is it a one-time giving or part of an ongoing process of promoting solidarity between the giving and receiving communities?

Fourthly, what does it do to or for the receiving community?

• Does it create or promote dependency relationships in which the rich givers are seen as the ones who can solve the problems of the poor?
• Does it undermine the self-esteem of the receiving community? They might feel that they cannot provide for themselves and their families and therefore are worth less than the rich outsiders.
• Does it promote a “gimme” attitude among the receiving community? Do it create expectations that visitors will always give them something?

What does it do to the giving community?

• Does it create or reinforce unhealthy power relations? We “have” what you need. We “know” what you need. You should listen to us.
• Does it create the impression that the people who receive have minimal capabilities and resources?
• Does it promote a "god complex" or a "savior" complex in the givers?

Some important points, in my opinion:           

• Those who come into a poor community need to respect and value the wisdom and capabilities of the people.
• Any giving should be in the spirit of sharing, not coming just to give. Those coming from outside need to be willing to receive from the people who are often extremely generous, offering a meal even when they are very poor or giving the visitors little gifts. Receive these gifts with real gratitude. Don't deny the people the opportunity to be generous.
• Giving should promote doing things together. If you bring a soccer ball, play soccer.
• Giving should be part of a process that promotes the people’s efforts at real transformation of their communities.
• Giving should be part of building ongoing relationships, for example, between communities, between churches. Are the givers willing to be involved in the struggles of the poor communities, not just today but also for years to come?

Above all give yourselves, not just things.

Seek to establish real relationships of solidarity and friendship.

And don’t forget money.

What do you think?

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ADDED NOTE:

One of the more interesting gifts from the parish of St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) in Ames, Iowa, where I served until I came to Honduras, was 20 pyxes.

Pyxes are small round containers for the consecrated hosts that are used to carry Communion, mostly to the sick. When a visitor from STA came and heard about the upcoming blessing of communion ministers, she suggested sending pyxes. She herself takes Communion to the sick in the local hospital.

The pastor of STA visited in February this year and distributed the pyxes to the Communion Ministers at the end of a Mass. The associate pastor of Dulce Nombre and he jointly blessed them but the STA pastor gave the pyxes to each communion minister individually.

Fr. Jon giving pyx to Doña Agüeda

This gift was a way of promoting solidarity between the parishes. It provided something the Communion Ministers would not have even thought of, but it is something that enhances their ministry in the parish here.

Several things strike me about this gift.

The gift connects the parish in a central aspect of faith - the Eucharist.

The gift is not to the persons as "individuals," but to them in terms of their service to the community.

The gift recalls the importance of bringing communion to the sick.

The gift is a sign of solidarity.

A deeper reflection on this might help us think about gift-giving.

 

 

On the receiving end of missionaries

Each year more than 50,000  people from the US visit Honduras on "Mission Trips." Most often these have a humanitarian dimension - bringing health care, building homes and schools, and more. I have some questions about them but that is for another post. 

Some of these humanitarian groups have a very strong mission  dimension, bringing Christianity to Honduras (where there are already many Catholics). There are also some groups that come exclusively to, as they might say it, "to spread the Gospel" or "save souls.

This afternoon in a grocery store in Santa Rosa de Copán there were three athletic looking young men. One was obviously from the US. We talked very briefly in the checkout line. He was in town for an evangelistic rally, with other athletes, as he said. We shared where we were from.

He asked me briefly what I do and I mentioned I was a lay volunteer with the local Catholic Church and did some formation work with people in the countryside.

Then he asked me if I knew I was going to heaven. My response, I hope so.

He didn’t say much more.

I felt offended. He does not know me. He does not know the people here and I’m almost sure he doesn’t speak Spanish.

But he had the presumption to ask me a question framed in his view of salvation.

What are he and his counterparts going to say and do with the Hondurans they encounter in their crusade?

Does he know that many of these people in our diocese put us US Christians to shame with their knowledge of scripture? I’m talking of Catholics who can cite the Bible, chapter and verse!

Does he know that these poor Catholics devote hours to their faith in Sunday Celebrations of the Word, in weekly meetings of their church base communities, and often also in Thursday Holy Hours before the Eucharist?

Does he know that they will walk hours for a special Mass or celebration or for a training session to help spread the faith?

Does he know that many have a strong sense of mission, visiting and inviting their neighbors to participate in their base community meetings?

Does he know that these very poor people give time and money to their church and to their communities?

Perhaps I am responding so strongly because I just got back from two meetings with coordinators of base communities to help them improve their meetings. Padre Efraín wanted me to help them understand the methodology of the booklet on Catholic Social Teaching they are using. But I used it more to help them improve their skills with facilitating the meetings.

It was much better than I expected, partly because some have been leading these groups for years and have a sense of the importance of letting all members of the meeting have a chance to share.

Again, these campesinos gave me courage and deepened my faith – by their witness of the Reign of God.

Of course, they are not perfect. But they are really signs of God’s love .

With them I think I get glimpses of what heaven is. And so my answer to the young man should have been:

“I am blessed by God to already see signs of heaven here – especially among the poor.”