CISV is crap because because Africa barely features on the CISV map. James (GB)
Dear organization, take this!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
In this section of the CISV Devils website we can discuss areas of CISV that are "not so great". Since CISV Devils is closed now, no more ceap submissions will be accepted.
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6 Comments:
Maybe Africa is crap since it is not on the CISV map.
Looking at Zimbabwe Africa seems to be crap a bit indeed. No, seriously, I'd like to see someone looking at why certain countries are big in CISV. Is it economic propserity? A big middle class? Travel cost to other CISV countries?
I was in Côte d'Ivoire doing CISV trainings back in May, here's a few thoughts:
- Yeah, it's crap.
- Most of our trainings are highly advanced. That is, the trainees need to already have a certain education in order to understand, grasp and apply.
- CISV doesn't care about being in Africa much. Some people still argue that African countries need to have people flying away from their countries to get what CISV is. To me, this needs to be very carefully analysed; I would prefer focusing on Mosaic, JB and IPP first - then, maybe IYMs and Interchanges between African countries...
- Maybe CISV is not "made" to be in Africa. NGOs in Africa (the ones who work) work and make a direct impact that people and governments are able to see almost immediately, because that is what they expect.
- The most amazing thing is that CISV in Africa could be the NA/PA with the most impact and global approach. All UN operations and affiliated organisations are eager to work with other NGOs and cooperate for the better (I mean, really), and some even have dedicated officers to liaise with CISV and other NGOs.
For now.
In agreement with Nano, and to add o that...
Some time during our 57 year history we got a bit lost. Instead of focusing on our vision (Peace by Peace Culture by Peace education/action) and from that develop methods (projects, ie camps) we today almost only focus on our methods (mainly camps) and very rarely from the perspective of our vision.
But I also think we need to ask WHY we should be more present in Africa (just as we need to ask WHY we wanna work with and achive diversity).
So that we can be truely globally represented? Or, since we actually feel/know that their perspective will enrich the quality in our organisation.
Not saying that anyone in this discussion does, but from other similar discussions I get the impresion that people and organisations want to work with/in Africa our of pitty for them, since their situation is "crap". That, for me, is totally the wrong perspective.
Well, but also we shouldn't go to Africa only to enrich the perspectives of our organisation.
I think the point is that if we're trying to empower individuals to be agents of change towards a better world - it makes all sense that we do this in Africa. Not because their situation is crap, but because it's a fertile soil for our "mission".
I agree with Nano that the way CISV works now, it's not "made to be in africa" - just like it's not made to be in the many "little africas" we have in all of the CISV countries. Basically, CISV is not designed at the moment to reach the poor, as if (1) they couldn't contribute for a peaceful society or (2) their contribution wouldn't have an impact.
In any case, I think it goes the other way around. We've been incompetent to reach these people and then created theories to justify it. Nothing new.
Well, there is probably a reason why Africa is still not on the CISV map.
But because it's not on the map, or it's hard to get it on. We should try to at least do something with africa in a certain project. We can't ignore it as we are a international organisation.
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