The point of implementing the months in Havana, I start to create my own ideas of social life, of the widespread lack of material and the different links of the relationships between people. In short, understand a little more the Cuban reality. But, as I said in the first entry ("Traveling is an art"), wanted to make a series of reflections on life in a developing country or developing, as more bureaucratic language called. How to behave? How to act? How are we to live without air so integrated our ethnocentrism?
The first time that I should be aware of how difficult it is to act in good faith and respect, while, a different culture, must have been in the India. Here, in Cuba, no people exhausted or run in the middle of the sidewalk and in the world's poorest countries. No exaggeration to say that the streets of Havana that is less poverty in the streets of Madrid. Here will be no shortage, but misery.
On the streets of Havana is less poverty than by Madrid. Here will be no shortage, but misery
Even so, abroad is still the focus of attention; a claim, in the end, money to be able to get something. So far, as in any country with minimal tourist tradition, As things happen. But I wanted to make is to our way of acting and to integrate line bypassing respecting difference.
The other day I went down to eat pizza under my house to a small post. There, in line, had a boy and a teenage girl eating each. When finished, asked another. The pizzas are not expensive, but Cuban wages, 10 pizza pesos each other is a significant expense. I came a doubt: "I pay the pizza? I do not means almost nothing and for them it may be a world. And, perhaps, Merry Afternoon ".
How I can help others directly, without getting lost in the labyrinth and uncertain system of NGOs?
Such attitudes will come one to the head always trying to sneak into the skin of the other. Helping people. But, With these behaviors? Show a kind of superiority? How I can help others directly, without getting lost in the labyrinth and uncertain system of organizations that are devoted to it?
It may be understandable that people who decide to help in any way wary of NGOs or other agencies. At the end of the day, these macro-level impact when we want to see that our money has immediate results: a girl who eats more, a child can go to school, a new roof, a water pump ... And, sometimes, financially support a project may not be very evident in their results, at least in the short term.
If we give money to street children we may be contributing to their parents sent them to do this "work" instead of going to school
In my opinion, the conflict between these two visions is that makes us sometimes his wallet: see teenagers eat one pizza are rewarding. But I think we have to transcend that very human need of immediate pleasure. Not talking about the case of Cuba, where, as I said, There is no misery that destroys half the world, but other tourist countries in which helping others can be contraindicativo. One, eg, give money to children who roam the streets, we may be contributing to their parents sent them to do this "work" instead of going to school. Addition, that money will not go directly intended for the creature, but for your home.
Some have pointed to this goodness as the main reason for the rise in prices for the tourist, because sometimes exaggerated not tip because the product price is outrageously cheap. Actually, what could be a good intention, becomes distorted and the same product may go up in price to these repeated actions.
The bike that I brought I give it to someone who needs it, and pillow I bought, and guitar…
Good intentions are never enough. On one occasion, a man told me he wanted to send a shipment of bread Africa "to give the world" what she had given him. He, owner of a large company, I can assure you without any hidden interest manifested (deduct, be publicized, etc.); simply, wanted to help. But the consequences of that act so admirably altruistic, as well-meaning, can cause unintended consequences like ruining local bread producers, distort prices, create a black market with our products ...
Working in other systems without integrate in it can cause this type of contradictions. In development cooperation, identify the needs of local organizations after doing extensive studies. I do not defend with this place anything or run to support, but talk about real cases to make us think the way to help others without getting too purist (I brought the bike that I give it to someone who needs it, and pillow I bought, and guitar). Only that, sometimes, from our unconscious good will can alter the course of a different society.
Some people want a different holiday and intends to "get into an NGO". To do what?, I often ask
Some people want a different holiday and intends to "get into an NGO". To do what?, I often ask. What can bring you in a month who can not provide them? It is true that, sometimes, such skilled personnel necessary (the medical teachers) when in the destination country lacking infrastructure, but we must not forget that people in developing countries can do a lot more things in your environment that could teach us.
In order, these reflections are only a song to respecting difference and not meddle in the course of cultures. Sometimes, Good intentions are hotly contested with respect. And we go home smiling thinking that we are real good citizens.
