This country is not my playground
by Rachel Berkowitz on February 4, 2010
During our time in Nicaragua, I have been encouraged by many of the relationships that I have observed between dedicated foreign workers and their equally dedicated Nicaraguan counter-parts (of our recent meetings, Salud Sin Limite, JHC-CDCA, and Fabretto Children‘s Foundation seem to be good examples). These and other organizations seem to work with the same sense of "pragmatic solidarity" with which GlobeMed chapters hope to work in their own partnerships.
In some cases, however, the focus of foreign workers seems to be solely on the projects and ideas of the foreign workers, with little or no attention being paid by the foreign workers to the long-term impact of their projects on the communities or the continuation of those projects after the foreign workers have left. The experience and goals of the foreign worker seem to be elevated to a level of ultimate importance.
As we continue to meet organizations that may partner with one of our new GlobeMed chapters (establishing a new transnational relationship), these observations bring up lots of questions. What is the effect of the presence of foreign workers? How can one work most responsibly and productively in an international setting? What sort of collaboration is truly best and most effective for doing "good work" - direct presence/staff, hands-off fund contribution, or other hybrid forms (like GlobeMed's approach, which includes the potential for fundraising, collaborative resource generation, and direct on-site work)? What climate is ideal for any of these types of involvement? When do foreign workers do more harm then good, and what are the implications of their actions for future foreign workers? How can one truly work in "pragmatic solidarity"?
Though my conclusions continue to form and evolve as we meet different people, the one sentiment that has continued to reverberate in my mind is this: this country is not my playground. That reverberation has manifested itself for me in poem form. If you do not wish to read my attempt at free form poetry, do not read further. But please, PLEASE comment. I would love to continue grappling with your thoughts as well as my own.
This country is not my playground
It is not for me to frolic about
‘Experiencing' amazing things
With no regard for my status
As a visitor. As a guest.
This country is not my playground
I may not hug the ‘precious' children
Without considering how their hunger, their sickness
Is related to my presence
Affected by the history that follows my person
And is considered by everyone
As I walk by.
This country is not my playground
It is not for me to leap forward
Guns blazing
Ready to tackle the "issues"
As clearly only I can
Without stopping to see
All the "issue"-tackling that is already occurring
By those far more qualified to do so
By those who know their communities
Whose passion and work is far more awe-inspiring
Than anything I could possibly do
I am privileged to listen, to learn, to hope
That by working hand-in-hand with those
Whose work will continue long after I am gone
I can add-on, I can support, and I can develop
A relationship born out of mutually-held ideas and values,
Encased in a sense of solidarity.
And if we play, we must play together
To learn each others' games
For this country is not my playground.
- Rachel Berkowitz
This post is #5 of an ongoing series for the GlobeMed Partner Search Fellows Program, through which GlobeMed's two PSFP Fellows, Rachel Berkowitz and Hannah Robbins, aim to build partnerships between GlobeMed and 15 new community-based health NGOs in Central and South America. These posts will help us follow their journey, as Rachel and Hannah help GlobeMed expand to new university chapters and community-based partners this coming year. To read the entire series of blog posts, click here.
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