What IS Working in Haiti (and elsewhere)

I am completely overwhelmed, and I feel helpless about the situation in Haiti.  All of the negative media about non-government organization's (NGO's) being ineffective and even hurting Haiti's recovery, like this one, is making me want to be in denial about the whole situation.  So, I want to take a moment to highlight something that IS working to help Haiti, banking via cell phones.

No one is saying immediate basic health, shelter and food issues aren't important, but if you want to look long term at arresting poverty, then you need to understand "why the most powerful idea in microfinance isn’t microloans, but microsavings — helping the poor safely store their money."  Maybe on the surface it doesn't sound that monumental, but I hope after reading the articles below you will be as optimistic as I am about this.

Gates Foundation gives prize for Haiti help - U.S. news - Giving - msnbc.com

Announces the first $2.5 million dollar grant, of a total of $10 million, the foundation plans to give away to the first companies that help Haitians with mobile banking.  Additional links on foundation page explaining importance of this investment:

• Bill Gates: Mobile Phones + Savings: A Powerful Pair
• Mobile money services have arrived in Haiti! - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Create Savings Accounts and Bring Financial Security to the World’s Poorest | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

 
Can Cell Phones Rescue Haiti? - Huffington Post
"Yet when you ask Haitians what they want most, the overwhelming majority will tell you they need money to support their families. After Haitians get clean water, food, shelter and medicine -- all the trappings of traditional aid packages -- they will still lack basic economic opportunities. That's where the cell phones come in."

I am re-posting these two articles as they further support the vital role cell phones play in aiding poverty.


I've Seen The Future (in Haiti) - New York Times
 Nicholas Kristof on the importance of cell phone technology in aiding poverty areas.  Also see this blog post from Kristof for more input from him.


In Kenya, Huts Far Off the Grid Harness the Sun - New York Times 
Recent article on the impact proving electricity, via solar panels, has on impoverished communities, not the least of which is being able to charge their cell phone, which ties into the importance of cell phones mentioned in the above article by Kristof.

I want to speak more to my feelings of helplessness and denial about Haiti.  Despite the constant negative press about the situation, I continue to read articles about people's refusal to give up. Last week I posted this interview with Thomas Tighe from Direct Relief International who said, "There is no option to quit."
There was also this article:

Why U.S. aid workers refuse to give up - CNN.com

"I don't want America to stop from asking these tough questions, because they have to keep all of us on the ball. I just want them to understand that the option to stop helping Haiti, while we address those questions, is that people will die," Stern said.

CALL TO ACTION:

1) donate used cell phones to Haiti or other poverty stricken countries.  You can google "donate cell phones Haiti" to get a list of organizations that take cell phones for this purpose.

2) Continue to donate to reputable NGO's supporting Haiti like our local Direct Relief International

3) When donating to other relief organization's ask them if they use cell phone technology to disperse their funds to victims.

MY ACTION:
At my next book club, I am going to ask everyone to bring old cell phones to donate.  I know I could say I am going to do a larger collection, but I might not ever get to that.  This is a small enough start that I will follow through with it. 

Sudan, Haiti, Microfinance Questioned, Solutions

SUDAN - over the years, much has been in the news about the human genocide happening in Darfur.  This election could possibly split the country into two with unknown positive or negative results for its people's welfare.

Jimmy Carter and Nicholas Kristof Answer Readers' Questions About Sudan, Take 1 - NYTimes.com
This is a great link to hearing from Kristoff and former President Carter about the current election situation in Sudan and its impact.

Cameron Sinclair: Southern Sudan: Building a New Nation

 Good comments about what Sudan will need if the country splits.  Points out the role of aid and possible negative impact, "where aid funding undermines economic incentive or a government's ability to develop local systems is dangerous and can lead to further destabilization."

MICROFINANCE UNDER QUESTION - Just like it is hard to see well meaning foreign aid groups under attack, it's frustrating to see microfinance now being questioned.  After reading these articles I am taking the stance that done ethically it is a good program.

In India, Microcredit Has Suffered a Black Eye - NYTimes.com

Article talking about hostility toward micro lenders and the attempt to blame the Nobel prize winner who mainstreamed it in India, Muhammad Yunus.

Suicides in India Revealing How Men Made a Mess of Microcredit - Bloomberg

Important point that many knock off lenders are in it for the profit and to take advantage.  Muhammad Yunus  addresses difference between Grammens Bank and the others.

Is Bangladesh Trying to Take Over Grameen Bank? - NYTimes.com

And from Kristof, "Bangladesh has thrived in recent decades because of the strength of its civil society — especially Grameen and the equally amazing organization BRAC. Government governance has frankly been disappointing, but civil society has helped account for Bangladesh’s enormous gains. If the government is now going to crush the country’s strongest sector, heaven help it."

HAITI - On the one year mark of the earthquake, I have to include something.

Charity Navigator Special Report - Haiti Earthquake: One Year Later - Main

 This is a great resource for getting more on the impact NGO's have had in Haiti especially with all of the bad press they have been getting.

An Unguarded Portrait of Haitian Spirit: Damon Winters Depicts a Disabled Dancer - NYTimes.com

Great story behind how the NYT Haiti cover shot was captured.

One year after the earthquake, Haitians wonder if international aid is keeping their country poor. (2) - By Maura R. O'Connor - Slate Magazine

This is a four part series.  I don't agree with all of it, but I found this second article the most interesting.


Direct Relief International: Emergency Response - Haiti Earthquake
 DRI's recap of the impact they have had this last year in Haiti.  Despite all of the negative press NGO's have been getting, let's not forget the good work that is still done.  You can also see CEO Thomas Tighe interviewed at msnbc.com Video Player.  I like his quote, "There is no option to quit."


SOLUTIONS:  "Fixes" is online only at the New York Times.  It focuses on currently implemented solutions to social problems and why they work.  Always interesting to read.

To Beat Back Poverty, Pay the Poor - NYTimes.com

This article discusses what it refers to as a more successful solution that can be implemented on a larger scale and that is paying the poor.  Current successful examples are included.

A Light in India - NYTimes.com

This article addresses how some of the greatest advances come from taking old ideas or technologies and making them accessible to millions of people who are underserved. In this case, electricity from corn husks.  

And to finish some things up:

Rich Tafel: A Bipartisan Strategy for Sharpening U.S. Foreign Aid

Good article on the the US government aid agency's future. It's direction and what it needs.   Emphasis is on aid that fosters economic development as a solution to poverty which is what I am reading more and more about as the best direction from people like Kristof.

World Health Priorities

 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Global development and health are some of my own personal prioritizes, but I decided to see what were the priorities of the leading foundation in the world, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It turns out, they also have these same interests.  If you have never checked out their website, it's a good one to bookmark, spend some time with, and check out periodically.


Gauging Bill Gate's Health Grants Five Years In
from New York Times
The generosity and impact of this foundation is not only humbling, but the innovative thinking in looking at future solutions has me in awe.  This recent article is an example of their innovative thinking.


World Health Organization Millennium Development Goals 
Another link to spend some time with is the World Health Organization .  This link takes you to the section on their Millennium Development Goals.  I like to know that this kind of international structure and effort and is going on, but this also helps me see where to put my own priorities.


WHO: Year in Review 2010 
Exactly what it says.  The year in review from the World Health Organization 


What Works - Maternal and Child Health
One of the top WHO: Millennium Development Goals focuses on maternal and child health.  This article from Partnership in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health discusses what we know works.  This is also another great site and resource on the subject to bookmark.

International Aid from Kristof

Nicholas Kristof
Many of you might have known who Nicholas Kristof was for years, but for me, I just discovered him a couple of months ago when I started reading his book, "Half the Sky."
The two time Pulitzer Prize winner and op-ed writer for the New York Times is my new deity. 

Bill Clinton said in September 2009: "There is no one in journalism who has done anything like the work he has done to figure out how poor people are actually living around the world, and what their potential is....So every American citizen who cares about this should be profoundly grateful that someone in our press establishment cares enough about this to haul himself all around the world to figure out what's going on....I am personally in his debt, as are we all."

Below are some recent and not so recent postings of his.

 
What Haiti Needs Most
from New York Times
Nicholas Kristof on what we need most in Haiti is business investors to create jobs.


I've Seen The Future (in Haiti)
from  New York Times
 Nicholas Kristof on the importance of cell phone technology in aiding poverty areas.


In Kenya, Huts Far Off the Grid Harness the Sun 
from New York Times
Not from Kristof, but recent article on the impact proving electricity, via solar panels, has on impoverished communities, not the least of which is being able to charge their cell phone, which ties into the importance of cell phones mentioned in the above article by Kristof.


Women's Crusade 
from New York Times
This is from a special section published in Aug 2009 discussing the experiences leading him to write "Half the Sky."  If you every feel down on your life, reading this book will make you realize how incredibly blessed you are and what amazing things people are doing to make an impact.


A School Bus for Shamsia
from New York Times
From this same section on "Saving the World's Women".  This story gives you not only good insight into just how challenging is it for girls to gain access to education under the Taliban, but the culture issues we face in trying to help them even with money available. It starts, "Even before the men with acid came..."


The Daughter Deficit
from New York Times
A final selection from "Saving the World's Women" and another one that shows western interest in helping is not as simple as it looks.  This article discusses how development seems to have not only failed to help many Indian girls but to have made things worse.


Women Fighting Sex Slavery Names CNN Hero of the Year
from CNN
I was in denial that sex slavery still exists, but Kristof pretty much enlightened me to my ignorance.  This recent award by CNN is only further proof of the still existing issue.