|
Hints
to start a USASC - People with villages
AMESBURY
FOR AFRICA/ESABALU SELF HELP GROUP
SISTER
CITIES PROGRAM
LESSONS LEARNED – 1987-2005
- AMESBURY FOR AFRICA IS A
“FRIENDSHIP-BASED DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
AND ESABALU, KENYA.
- THE PRIMARY MISSION OF A
SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP IS CITIZEN EXCHANGE. THIS CREATES FRIENDSHIPS AND MUTUALLY SUSTAINING
RELATIONSHIPS. FRIENDSHIP LEADS
TO DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT OF BOTH COMMUNITIES.
- EXCHANGES MUST BE
BILATERAL. AMERICA TO AFRICA IS
NOT ENOUGH. AFRICAN VISITORS
MUST COME TO THE USA TO SEE HOW WE REALLY LIVE. THIS AVOIDS STEREOTYPES AND MIS-UNDERSTANDINGS.
- AVOID BEING PERCEIVED AS
A DONOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.
GIVING MONEY TO YOUR FRIEND WITHOUT BEING PAID BACK, WILL EVENTUALLY
ERODE TRUST AND DESTROY FRIENDSHIP. THIS ENDS THE PARTNERSHIP.
- LEARN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE IN A CULTURE OF SCARCITY AND LIFE IN A CULTURE OF PLENTY.
FOR THE LATTER, CHANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
FOR THE FORMER IT IS A BIG RISK!
REMEMBER THE “CURSE ON THE PENNY” STORY.
- INITIAL PROJECTS SHOULD
BE SMALL-SCALE AND ‘DO-ABLE’ IN A SHORT TIME FRAME.
SMALL SUCCESSES BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF
RISK.
- AT AMESBURY FOR AFRICA
WE LIMIT MONETARY ASSISTANCE (AS OPPOSED TO VISITOR EXCHANGE) TO THE
FOLLOWING:
a.
TRAINING AND SEMINARS
b.
TOURS TO SUCCESSFUL SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS NEARBY
c.
‘ONE-SHOT’ ACTIVITIES WITH A LIMITED TIMEFRAME AND STRICT
ACCOUNTABILITY – E.G. “ANNUAL SISTER VILLAGES CONFERENCE”
d.
ONE TIME GRANTS OF SMALL AMOUNTS FOR SEED MONEY FOR A POTENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT IDEA
8.
DEVELOPMENT OCCURS ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
9.
OVER TIME, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR SISTER
COMMUNITY WHO WILL DO GREAT THINGS. IN
A CULTURE OF SCARCITY, THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE MUCH RARER THAN IN A CULTURE OF
PLENTY. . THEY ARE OFTEN WOMEN.
10.
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO TAKE ON LARGER PROJECTS LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO
PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT OR NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSION IS TO DO
THE TYPE OF PROJECT YOU ENVISION. AFTER
CITIZEN EXCHANGE, RESOURCE LOCATING AND PARTNERING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ACTIVITY OF A SISTER CITY ORGANIZATION. LEARNING
HOW TO KNOCK ON DOORS AND FIND HELP IS A VALUABLE SKILL FOR OUR SOUTHERN
PARTNERS TO ACQUIRE. HAVING AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH AN AMERICAN SISTER
CITY MAKES YOUR PARTNER COMMUNITY ATTRACTIVE TO THE DONOR OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
11.
SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF PARTNERING FROM OUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDE:
a.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL – WATER PROJECT
b.
LOCAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS – SCHOOL UNIFORMS FOR ORPHANS - AMESBURY
ROTARY CLUB. ROAD TO THE VILLAGE –
KISUMU, KENYA ROTARY CLUB
c.
CHRISTIAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF KENYA – TRAINING COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH
WORKERS
d.
CHILD-TO-CHILD – A SCHOOL BASED CURRICULUM TO USE PRIMARY SCHOOL
STUDENTS AS FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATORS
e.
HEIFER PROJECT – DAIRY ANIMALS
f.
LUANDA TOWN COUNCIL AND HEALTH MINISTRY – LAND FOR A HEALTH CLINIC
ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES COST AMESBURY FOR
AFRICA NOTHING
12.
HAVE FUN! NOT ALL EXCHANGES
SHOULD BE SERIOUS AND WORLD-BEATING. SOME
EXAMPLES OF FUN EXCHANGES INCLUDE:
a.
EXCHANGE OF SLIDE SHOWS OF DAILY LIFE
b.
TEE-SHIRT ART – KIDS DECORATING SHIRTS AND SENDING THE RESULTS OVERSEAS
TO THEIR PARTNERS
c.
BASKETBALL CLINICS AND BICYCLE REPAIR CLINICS IN ESABALU
d.
BOOK SWAP AT AMESBURY ELEMENTARY –FUNDS BUY BOOKS FOR EBUSSAMBA SCHOOLS
13.
INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY
BRING FRESH VIEWPOINTS AND LOTS OF ENTHUSIASM.
AN EXCHANGE VISIT TO AFRICA CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
14.
GRANTS FOR CITIZEN EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE,
THROUGH SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF
CITIZEN EXCHANGE. |
