In the first part of the essay, we sketched the economical and political historic background of the current aid system. In the second part, we looked at things in the current NGO-based aid system that are not quite optimal. In the final part, I will start addressing solutions, based on my own experience. What does impactful, effective NGO work look like? We should focus on a paradigm of collaborative, community-based aid, rather than aid delivery. How to create good conditions for people? An impactful paradigm is grassroots and not top-down. Local people should be co-creators, who, with the support of aid agencies, move towards becoming more independent and self-sustaining. Aid oughtn't be ‘pushed’ on local people. The Listening Project talks about a ‘collaborative aid system’.(1) You could also call it a community-based approach, where you strengthen local communities by building strong ties with them and giving them the support that really need. You achieve this by taking your
Bold visions for a more compassionate society. Sowing seeds of change to build new systems that are more inclusive, kind, fulfilling and embrace the needs of all beings. Offering thoughts on gift economy, unschooling, veganism, deep ecology, and a profound look at today's world through the eyes of interbeing, compassion and non-discrimination. (Find me on instagram.com/compassion.revolution)