A couple of posts ago, I spoke about the misleading dialogue that often exists between members of a community and those trying to develop said community. To continue with that discussion, I think it's important to note another complication thwarting these conversations-- what people don't say. And, this is not just what they don't say to development workers, but what they don't say to anybody-- not even (or especially not) their fellow community members. The primary culprit I see for this is shame. If you ask someone what they would like to develop in their community, they will rarely mention anything that could be construed for their own personal failure. However, it's these issues that are often most telling. And the more people who seem to dodge speaking about an issue, the more integral that issue generally is. Often times I think we wrongfully define communities with structures-- buildings, bore holes, electric poles, etc. However, a community is fundamentally defined by it's inhabitants. You could have skyscrapers, paved roads, and every "first-world" amenity, but without people, there is no community. Where you have a sizable group of people, regardless of their amenities, you always have a community. By focusing on the structures, we avoid the core of the community and our projects often end up superficial and unsustainable. Instead of focusing on what structures a community is lacking, we should be focusing on what skills or qualities the people are lacking. It is through them and with them that we can fundamentally and sustainably develop a community.
In the case of my community and many rural communities in northern Ghana, I've found people are rarely if ever willing to discuss their farming abilities. Reason being, almost all of us have inherited the trade from our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. What we farm and how we farm is often inextricably linked to our ethnic identity. It's part of our culture. So, to admit that one might not know how to farm a specific crop, or how to do it most efficiently is a grave shame that not only reflects on the individual, but the family. To question someone's farming abilities is a severe insult. Consequently, it is often a difficult topic to discuss. The unfortunate reality, however, is that 90% of the people are farming inefficiently. They farm to feed their families and generate an income, but most years, they fall short of doing both. The effects are detrimental to the development of the community, contributing to the levels of poverty and malnutrition directly, as well as so many other social issues indirectly (youth education, health insurance, crime, etc.).
Tackling an issue such as this takes a significant amount of time and sensitivity. It requires leaders and organizers who are trusted by community members, as well as able to speak candidly to them. It's this kind of work, though the focus may be different in each community or country, that I believe will empower the people-- the community. Once empowered--able to maintain themselves, their families, and make a living wage, a whole host of new opportunities will become available. As the community thrives we may even start to see some of those external indicators (bore holes, electricity, running water...) of a developing society. But, it will be the people who organized to put them there, and for that reason alone, they will be sustainable.
