|
 he
recent scene started harmlessly enough. A woman visiting
Haiti from North America brought a small bag of inexpensive
gifts (candy, key chains, etc.) to hand out to those
she met. A crowd formed around her, and soon the reaching
hands grew more numerous than her gifts. With her
bag empty, she reached into her pockets and started
handing out money. The crowd grew bigger still. It
was time to leave, and she climbed onto the back of
her group’s flatbed truck. Yet even as the truck
started moving away, the hands kept beckoning and
the crowd began pursuing. Moved by the clamorous need,
with her bag and pockets empty, she reached to her
neck, took off her necklace, and threw it into the
crowd.
Generous?
Unquestionably. Admirable? Yes, who wouldn’t
admire her heart. But the right way to share?
Unfortunately,
the result of this giving was (of course) undignified
scrambling, minor brawling, and ever louder cries
for more gifts, more money, more jewelry. It was charity
fit to incite a riot.
This
woman is an example of generosity, yet the outcome
of her giving was likely not what she expected or
wanted. Giving isn’t easy, and, unfortunately,
good intentions aren’t always enough.
Beyond
Borders wants to help good exchanges of giving and
receiving (going both ways) between Haitians and North
Americans. We also realize we can’t do this
alone. Thus the single most important “technique”
we have for giving well is always working in partnership
with Haitian organizations–-primarily our sister
organization in Haiti, Limyè Lavi.
|  “Well,
how can we help them?”
the woman asked a Haitian doctor who was in
the truck, after she had given out her gifts
and jewelry.
“Get
to know us,” he responded. “Come
and stay with us a little longer, then do more
reading.” |
This
ensures it’s not such a situation of “us”
giving to “them.” We work with Haitians
to ensure we honor Haitian dignity and culture as
we give. Also, we work with Haitians to ensure our
constituents’ generous donations are investing
in long-term solutions.
Giving
well is hard, but joyous, work. Generosity isn’t
the only thing that counts, but it’s the unquestionable
place to start.
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