What is the right thing to do? When I was in school, I was told that one important thing about history is learning what happened in the past the good and the bad. I think in some ways it works similarly when viewing a less progressed country or people group from a more advanced view. First the system in the US, then thoughts about the issues.
It is not as simple as telling the young woman to go to school and get advanced degrees. We know from looking at the US what happens with that. The same chores and everyday activities need to be done. If the women are working 9-5ish, someone else needs to do the work. This is where hired labor comes into play. Those who have not had the opportunity to go to school need to pay for food, have shelter, etc. They are willing to work hard for cheap. Immigrants in the United States are now doing many of these jobs and even raise the children is some cases.
Instead of entering a society and implementling what we Americans think they need and will solve their problem, we need to learn to listen and truly live with the people. Many of us in the United States have the blessings of technology, education, money, ample resources. Often when we graduate from school with a degree, we think, ¨what do I do now?¨ After working in the field for a short time, one realizes that while the skill and knowledge is important it is not sufficient to meet the needs. So much depends on the mindset of the people.
For example, as I mentioned before I had several children that the doctors said would never walk. Two in particular come to mind. One(L. A.) was the fourth child in a family of all young boys. The father died suddenly just after the child was born. From the beginning of his life, L.A. mother fought hard to get whatever her son needed. She was not ashamed of having a son with disabilities. The mother treated L. A. just like her other boys. He got disciplined and reward with the same system. She let him play outside and rough house with the others the best he could. She took him everywhere the others went. At least every other week, the mother would report that L. A. could crawl faster, stand for longer, walk farther or on a different surface. I used my trade and knowledge to help him and his family. I honestly think what helped the most was listening to his mother and listening to what he was telling me nonverbally and attending to that.
The other child (JS) that comes to mind was an only son of a well to do Asian family. The family was ashamed of their son´s abilities and did not take him out of the house until he was two. He did not even go for many walks around the neighborhood in the stroller. His every need was catered. He did not even have to hold his cup or bottle when drinking. Every time he did not want to do something or was uncomfortable, he would cry and scream. Until he came to see me at 2yo, he did not know that he could move to get a toy that was out of reach. He screamed the entire 50 minute session for about 1 month. After that, he knew that crying with me would not get him out of work. Occassionally his parent would watch the session without him knowing. They were always amazed at what their son was capable of doing. At home, though, he was not showing progress. They were still waiting on him hand and foot and catering to his every cry. He is a long ways for walking. The power of mindset is amazing.
Even though both boys had a similiar disability and similar problems on the outside, they each had unique needs. I had to approach each of them differently. If I had just treated their impairments without listening to their specific needs, neither would have achieved the milestones they did.
I think it is similar with societies progressing without losing their culture. If we as outsiders project what we think the needs and problems are and offer and initiate solutions, the solutions will not stay. As soon as the proget is over, the society will revert to way it was. Change has to begin from the inside out. Change is slow. An outsider needs to ask questions and then wait and listen for the answers from the people. Often the first request or need shared is not the real one.
Once a problem or need is identified, someone should guide the people to come up with their own solution. This way as with teaching, the next time the problem arises, they will know how to address it. Also, if the people are on board with the project, the change, the solution, it will last.
This is where the skills and knowledge we have and have access to in the US comes into play. When we listen to the people, we can use our resources to guide the people and work with the people towards progress and a solution. We have to work and think outside of our box of skills and knowledge from the university. Although someone is trained as a doctor, they will need to know about sociology, anthropology, economics, ecology, psychology in addition to medicine.
Now you have some of the ramblings and incomplete thoughts running around in my head about change. Let me know what your thoughts are.
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