My "career" in International Development started as a starry-eyed 18 year old out to save the world. It started with the decision to abandon my studies of the concrete science of Mathematics at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania in order to explore the much more ambiguous and loosely defined fields of Public Health and International Development at Tulane University in New Orleans.
I am the definition of an optimist, I have “Half Full” tattooed on my wrist. I thought that my big heart, optimism, and devotion to philanthropy would suffice as a foundation to make big changes in the world. I soon learned that it does not help to be hopelessly idealistic, and these qualities often clouded my ability to be a realist. Successful development practices are implemented around the big picture and the long run, not making things easy and perfect in the short run. As Bernard Amadei preached at the MCC 2010 conference in New York, “It’s beyond giving a man a fish, or even teaching a man to fish. It’s About creating a fishing industry.” Yes, throwing money at Japan seemed like the most helpful and humane thing to do after they experienced a crippling earthquake, but is that really going to help in the long run? People rely on fundamental ideas about “helping the world” such as donating clothesor traveling to a developing country to volunteer…. but upon evaluation, these practices are actually hurting the developing world. Time and money could be spent in a hundred different ways that would better promote international development.
Realizing that what I had originally thought to be helpful was actually harmful has turned my world upside-down, but now I am more determined than ever to face the facts and take and educated and informed approach to promote international development – soft heart, hard truths, and all.
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