It's Complicated, Part 2
The companion relationship between the people of Tungamalenga Parish and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church is deeply rewarding, and can also be deeply complicated. We travel to Tanzania and see so many, many heartbreaking needs. We see that with our resources, we could easily meet so many of those needs. Yet we also become quickly aware that for every one individual need that we can meet, there dozens and hundreds of others with that same need. Beyond the needs of the person whom we know by name, are many others with the same or even greater needs.
That is where we often face complicated choices in our partnership.
When we visit the clinic in Tungamalenga and see a child suffering from malaria, often one of our travelers quietly offers to pick up the bill (usually less than $5). Or perhaps we give the family mosquito nets and instructions on how to use them to prevent the other children in the family from getting malaria.
But where we have the greater impact is when we step back and say, what would it take to provide all the children under five in this area with mosquito netting?
When we visit schools we see that teachers are working hard with few resources, and although students study diligently, many are unable to pass the national exams that are the only path to advanced study.
We have at times encouraged scholarship sponsors to send gifts to their students -- calculators with scientific functions for advanced math and science students, paperback dictionaries to help students learning English, notebooks and pens. These gifts are valued and help show individuals that we care.
But we have found some ways to have a larger impact by directly providing schools with textbooks and technology for science labs.
The paradox of this partnership is that while our experience with specific individual needs -- people we know by name -- sets our hearts on fire with the desire to help, our most sustainable and effective help is given when we step back, look at the specific need in the context of its underlying causes, and imagine what could make a difference for all the people in the same situation -- people whose names we don't know yet.
Our most successful projects in this partnership have been the ones that benefitted whole communities rather than individuals.
If you are interested in becoming a scholarship donor for our Tanzanian students, or would like to provide funds for textbooks and educational technology, please contact me via e-mail.
May God give us generous hearts, so that the needs of those we know, and the needs of those we can imagine, may all be filled. Thank you for supporting this ministry.
That is where we often face complicated choices in our partnership.
When we visit the clinic in Tungamalenga and see a child suffering from malaria, often one of our travelers quietly offers to pick up the bill (usually less than $5). Or perhaps we give the family mosquito nets and instructions on how to use them to prevent the other children in the family from getting malaria.
But where we have the greater impact is when we step back and say, what would it take to provide all the children under five in this area with mosquito netting?
When we visit schools we see that teachers are working hard with few resources, and although students study diligently, many are unable to pass the national exams that are the only path to advanced study.
We have at times encouraged scholarship sponsors to send gifts to their students -- calculators with scientific functions for advanced math and science students, paperback dictionaries to help students learning English, notebooks and pens. These gifts are valued and help show individuals that we care.
But we have found some ways to have a larger impact by directly providing schools with textbooks and technology for science labs.
The paradox of this partnership is that while our experience with specific individual needs -- people we know by name -- sets our hearts on fire with the desire to help, our most sustainable and effective help is given when we step back, look at the specific need in the context of its underlying causes, and imagine what could make a difference for all the people in the same situation -- people whose names we don't know yet.
Our most successful projects in this partnership have been the ones that benefitted whole communities rather than individuals.
- The Mahove water project brought water to a village.
- The Tungamalenga Dispensary ward construction upgraded that clinic so that a government partnership was formed to provide basic preventive health care to the community for free.
- The investment in a microfinance cooperative gave the community funds to make short term loans so people could increase their income.
- A recent project provided solar power for a secondary school's computer lab, providing the student body with digital instructional materials.
If you are interested in becoming a scholarship donor for our Tanzanian students, or would like to provide funds for textbooks and educational technology, please contact me via e-mail.
May God give us generous hearts, so that the needs of those we know, and the needs of those we can imagine, may all be filled. Thank you for supporting this ministry.
Comments
Post a Comment