Approaches to working with people in need

This table was presented by Anamed at the ECHO Annual Agricultural Conference in November, 2006. There are many ways to engage with people in need, but the know-it-all, pitiful approach of the overdeveloped world often ignores important contextual constraints, disrespects local communities and ultimately recycles the processes of exploitation that maintain people ‘poor’ and ‘needy’. Ultimately, recipients of ‘aid’ are politically constrained to accept what is given to them without criticism. As a result, ‘aid’ organizations grow distant from the communities they claim to support and ignorant of their real needs. So, are you really committed to help, or do you just want to feel good about yourself?

	to take advantage of people in need	to work for people in need	to work on behalf of people in need	to work with people in need	to work one step behind people in need
People in need	are a market.	are ill.	suffer illness, are under-developed.	have been made poor and ill.	are good people. They have a different culture.
The problem is a result of	people not participating in the global market.	fate.	under-development.	the same unjust political and economic structures that are also causing poverty in our countries.	being born into a situation and culture that is different.
The feeling of the helper is one of	delight.	superiority. They are less fortunate, less well educated, less intelligent.	sympathy.	solidarity.	empathy and friendship, and being in a position to learn a lot.
The way to give help is to	sell products.	give money.	support development.	tacke the causes of injustice.	respect their way of life and to learn from them.
The practical action of the helper is to	set up a local company to market products.	provide (to feed or to heal).	teach people how to be teachers, doctors, engineers.	campaign together. To share available resources so that, together, we achieve something better.	share the available material and human resources to help them do what they want to do.
Helpers look at people in need from	behind the sales desk.	above.	in front.	their side, we stand together.	a little behind them, waiting for them to take the initiative.
As a result of what we do, we expect	to take money.	gratitude.	gratitude, an enthusiastic response.	to give and receive mutual support.	nothing.
Our relationship is	business.	benevolent.	teacher / pupil.	partner.	friend, learner, enabler.
Example from the world of health:	Companies sell toxic mercury soaps, cigarrettes, breast milk substitutes, vitamin pills, etc.	We provide doctors, medicines and hospitals. We meet their basic health needs.	We teach people how to be good nurses and doctors.	Together we challenge the rules of the WTO, we campaign against patents on plants.	We work together to learn more about medicinal plants and natural medicine.