Bendita crisis

For: Maria Ferreira
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Much has been made of the effects of the financial crisis. All information we are saturated by the catastrophic we consume our daily bread. If still no bread. When talking about how the crisis is affecting NGO focused on international aid, the thesis is founded, In most cases, on topics lukewarm and cowardly that turn black point loss that sinks in a graph.

Maybe it's the only way we can survive. And I mean specifically to all who, at some point in our lives, we embark on this monumental lie that is "fighting for a better world" and today we walk together in air-conditioned offices, observing and assuming that the numbers show empirically that a particular project is not profitable, what lead us to conclude that we must make cuts or human resources without.

Patients will be without medication. Nor will we pay the ambulance transfers. Neither the food. But this is not a tragedy

Cuts, in the case of the NGO I lead, assume that psychiatric patients have so far benefited from the project will be without medication. Nor will we pay the ambulance transfers. Neither the food. But this is not a tragedy today, called personal anecdote. The crisis allows, even, grading that it deficit, so we can drown our sorrows in a beer chilly, after the meeting, without feeling that the world is miserable. That we are miserable. Bendita crisis.

Part of my job is to travel the roads of Muranga (an area located 60 al kilometers north of Nairobi) with Mr. Ndung’u, psychiatric nurse, to take medication to psychiatric patients who can not travel to the health center. No big deal. Our NGO is not going to save the world. But so far we have been able to ensure medication and free medical care to a 120 patients. And we're talking about psychiatric patients, which carries a huge stigma in that region Kenya. Many are abandoned on the roads, disowned by their families, and accused of being damned.

My job is to travel the roads of Muranga with Mr. Ndung’u, nurse, to take medication to psychiatric patients

When I embarked on this project, I knew it would not be easy. Mental illness, by chronic disease connotation implies, unprofitable. But I was full of hope and thought I could convince the world of the need to dignify the people I worked. Persons to which I now refer as numbers, as losses, unprofitable factors. The crisis has given me the gift of disaffection. Bendita crisis.

Yesterday I realized that the terrible NGOs underlying the ego of those in command. Losses and lack of funds translate into a fear that makes us cautious. And yes, Gentlemen, caution is usually in most cases be more than an understatement cowards. We took refuge in theories, specialists, in analysis, and try to save our project, hiding our fear of personal failure and trying, primarily, safeguard our ass.

The terrible thing that underlies NGOs is the ego of those in command. Losses and lack of funds translate into a fear that makes us cautious, be an understatement over cowards

I know that NGOs are not love. So I've learned. I also know that you have some romantic, and a lot of stupid, want to change something as things stand. I know there are projects that do not sell, like working with mental illness. For my project, translated into numbers, means that I have "x" chronic patients who will assume "x" expenses per month for life, without producing anything in society. Loss. Money is simply going to dignify, ease. Loss. I also know that society is radicalized, and NGOs are considered, many times, as the ideal medium to carry out a new model of colonialism, also deepening dependence perversity, etc.. But those discussions, While necessary, most problem sometimes point, and propose solutions of one who is not crazy everyday lives in that reality.

These years I have heard many times "it is not profitable", yesterday I found myself cursing my ideal. I found myself wondering if it would be high time to stop playing the world is a decent place to work in any hotel chain (because with a degree and another in the process I can not aim higher in this country).

Yesterday I found myself cursing my ideal, wondering if it would be high time to stop playing the world is a decent place to work in any hotel chain

But, then, among many ambiguities that converged on those graphs, I saw patients, I saw my team of nurses, I saw the twenty children we have now in the orphanage. And I thought that this blessed crisis, we can remove the illusion, we can remove the desire to believe in something that is not economically productive, but please, do not take away our dignity. Please, all who are at the head of a humanitarian project small and crazy, not abandon. That all these people who are part of our graphics in negative know they are not going to leave you alone. Never fail to look ahead to what they have believed. That this crisis in the holy Dejean, at least, the opportunity to be masters of our small boats. Anyone or anything make us rats.

If you want to know more about Africa Karibuni projects: http://www.karibuniafrica.org/

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Comments (6)

  • Mayte

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    The truth is I do not know what to say, Why add to this article written with so much heart and sensitivity…
    At least, I mean you get my mind and tell you that we will be always some crazy wanting to change the world and to continue on board, although it seems that the boat is sinking.
    A hug

    Answer

  • Juan Antonio Portillo

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    Faced with such hypocrisy and deceit that surrounds us, still believe that @ s that help, I admire your courage, your sincerity and your words emerged from your heart, Mary.

    Kisses and hugs

    Answer

  • Laura

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    Congratulations for your work Maria!!! I can not throw in the towel, although there are days when all we would do nicely.
    But,What would the world be without people like you ?
    The world needs more people fighting for what they believed and continues to forward, like you, despite the problems that appear on the road.
    Much encouragement and good luck.

    Answer

  • publikaccion

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    to fall to rise again… esto es la life…

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