If nothing traditional aid agencies are doing is working
What does different look like?
You do not teach a man to fish by buying him all the equipment, building him a boat, building a fishing school, and paying him to attend it.
This is the model of all aid.
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. The saying may be true but in world aid the application is not. Aid programs and kind hearted donors use new buzzwords but rarely change how they apply aid in the real sense. You best teach a man to fish when he is a young boy, and his father shows him how to carve a pole, cut some line, make a hook, and find bate. How to cast, and how to know where the fish are.
VCI is dedicated to the ideas that:
- Only Africans can solve the problems in Africa.
- Only Africans living within the affected communities of poverty can lead the way in breaking the bonds of poverty.
- The resources needed by the community to get started are already available in their own communities.
And the radical premise of empowerment
- Don’t give money
- Don’t loan money
- Don’t promote ideas and solutions - let the community develop them
- Don’t allow outsiders to participate in projects with the community
- Don’t bring goods or services.
Vable Community Initiatives Ghana, update!
The team facilitated OPOS training at Nsakyi community.
It was an interesting interaction where the people were able to identify the effects of; Poverty, abuse and diseases on the community.
However, it is instructive to note that, the people were able to also highlight ways and means by which they can raise their standard of living on their own in order to overcome all of this challenges as mentioned above.
Now that is exactly what OPOS is meant to achieve, help communities to identify their challenges and be accountable and responsible for solving them using their ingenuity and the available resources around them.
This way, it is more sustainable and consistent for over a period of time and can be replicated across neighboring communities too.
Success is usually achieved by the little things we do if only we will be committed and consistent. vcinitiatives.org ... See MoreSee Less
Viable community Initiative update , Ghana!
Team Ghana facilitated OPOS training at Katapor community, Ghana.
The training was well attended by the community members and also quite interactive.
We asked questions around challenges bedeviling the community and what in their own opinion, can be done to address these challenges using affordable and accessible resources within their community.
This forms the basis for discussion with the community members suggesting solutions themselves.
Using OPOS methodology, it makes sense to them why the need to task themselves to cooperate and work in unison to address their challenges in order to be able to achieve the basic outcomes for life through simple home practices.
We strongly believe that this community will utilise this opportunity to better their communities and homes.
Shatter Conformity, Spark Transformation! vcinitiatives.org ... See MoreSee Less
Village Care Initiative update, DR Congo!
The Congo team facilitated OPOS training in Congo with emphasis on child education and home based activities.
They identified that, communication and attention makes a positive impact in a child's education.
They encouraged parents to create time to listen and appreciate the little efforts of their children and motivate them with cheering and affirmative words.
As parents, you're your child's first mentor as kids look up to their parents for guidance and direction in life which contributes to their personal, emotional growth and development.
Shatter Conformity, Spark Transformation! vcinitiatives.org ... See MoreSee Less