Invisible Children (IC) Uganda is a kick ass organization. I can attempt to describe why it is so awesome but I really could never do it justice. IC is not a charity, it is an organization that seeks to educate and empower the community. IC has four primary programs: 1) Visible Scholarship Program, 2) Schools for Schools, 3) Village Savings and Loan Association, and 4) MEND. These programs (refer to IC website for additional information) all seek to educate and give tools for a sustainable future. I could go on and on but frankly I would end up writing pages! Basically, IC is at the forefront of development.
But with all the good there will inevitably be some negative fallout. In the short time that I have been absent from Gulu I have found that small changes are emerging. New industry is emerging in town- a to go coffee shop, a pizza restaurant, and many other places. These places emerged to meet the needs of outsiders. The Ugandans aren’t getting to go coffee nor are they having pizzas delivered. When foreigners choose to go coffee over the local product they are taking money away from the local restaurant. I can’t fault people for choosing the “new” product, the quality and taste is closer to American standards and the service is quicker- I prefer patronizing those places because I like them better and they meet my needs. But am I here to meet my needs? And by servicing my needs am I doing the Ugandans a disservice? I will ask myself thousands of questions while I am here am most of them I will never answer…
In addition to new industry there are also new attitudes- not large changes but minor shifts. Boda boda (motorcycle taxis) drivers seem to be increasing their prices for munus (white people). Some might not see this as a problem but if Americans pay the increased prices then soon the price structure will shift for all riders, American and Ugandan, and the Ugandans don’t have the means to pay the increased fares. Another emerging problem with Boda drivers is they are becoming more aggressive with the female riders. Last year, besides the occasional drunken midnight ride (the driver was drunk), I felt pretty safe getting around town. This year, however, a couple of the women have felt sexually violated by the drivers, nothing too dangerous but enough to shake the women and the entire group. The incident forced us to revaluate the way we get around town. It is easy to get angry with the Boda drivers but when one really thinks about it they must consider- what brought about the change? The only access most Ugandans have to American culture is through movies and music videos. How are women portrayed and what message does that send to the men around the world?
I could ponder development for an endless amount of time so I am going to cut myself short.
I know that IC does great things in Uganda but at what cost…
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Interesting observations. Provided the coffee and pizza shops are owned/run by Ugandans, I would applaud their entrepreneurial ingenuity: they saw an unmet need and are targeting a demographic with money. If the standards of these places that cater to the "munus" really are higher, then the increased competition will raise the bar for everyone - and capitalism is at work (for the better, I think). So, unless it's a Starbucks, I say sip and chomp with a clean conscience (if nothing else)... to a point. It is sad when local cultures get supplanted with Western culture, but it doesn't sound like that's the case yet.
ReplyDeleteI realize you're a visitor in their country, but it sounds to me like you're making excuses for their unacceptable behavior. If you're there trying to help, the media these men choose to consume (and it is a choice - we put out plenty of excellent documentaries, but I'm guessing nobody buys those) should not be an excuse for anything less than respectful behavior towards people who've come to try and help... would alcohol consumption (also a western influence thing??) be an acceptable excuse? Would they treat their own women the same way? I don't know - but keep your knife handy. The price gouging chaps my ass in particular. It seems to be something cabbies in developing countries the world over do - I got gouged several times in cabs and at bars in Latvia when I was there in '09.
All that said - I'm curious: what's the pizza like? Anything like pizza here?
I started to comment, but I could write a blog entry myself! I think you really do leave Uganda with more questions than you started with - but you carry those experiences with you for a lifetime... Hopefully, it makes you a better person / teacher. Man I miss Uganda!
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