Small is Beautiful

Part IV in a series: What We Found - Haiti

As the title of the economist E.F. Schumacher’s book says, “small is beautiful;” it is also more effective and therefore a better use of time and resources.

Haiti is filled with foreign NGOs (INGOs). Some of them make a concerted effort to partner with smaller, grassroots organizations, but most do not. Though they receive enormous grants and employ many people, their structures require time and money to maintain, and that means that less is available for the Haitians whom the organization is meant to serve.

The complex, massive NGO structure also blocks out the voices and proposals of Haitians on the outside of their gated quarters, those with abilities and brilliant ideas for changing their communities. At times, it felt like two completely separate worlds, operating on the same streets and villages as one another. We heard on many occasions how Haitians’ main hope for contacting an NGO officer – whether at a local or foreign NGO – was through another foreigner like ourselves.

The agronomist who also served as vice president of Pastor W’s local NGO is energetic and very accomplished. In 2010 he published his fourth Kreyol manual on animal husbandry and farming techniques, and he appears regularly on a local radio station. Despite this, he consistently turned to Sarah, Gina, and myself to make contacts with NGOs operating in Haiti that may be interested in his work. This baffled us, especially since we felt that we were living in the midst of a treasure trove of indigenous talent, vision, heart, and leadership.

As a rule, it seems that smaller organizations or grassroots, locally-led, movements are better equipped to connect with the ideas, capacities and potential of local people. It is their "bread and butter," as my father-in-law would say. In these contexts, asset-based models of development are more likely to come alive. People and relationships are more likely to be cherished over 'projects.' I am so thankful I was immersed in an environment like this, where the foreigner is not automatically 'the expert' - we are all collaborators - and the potential and power contained in a locally-led movement of people is palpable and very real.  

What we Found: Wherever you work, develop connections with small, grassroots movements that are run strictly by nationals. Even if you work with nationals, immerse yourself in their lives outside of the office so you can deepen your understanding of the gifts, ideas, and networks they possess but are not able to express in the workplace. Be aware of the activities of grassroots groups and become involved whenever possible.

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In 2010 I spent 4 months in Haiti with my classmates Sarah and Gina. We were completing our graduate studies in International Development from Eastern University, and we embarked on a final semester as co-learners and, oddly enough, teachers in Port-Au-Prince and beyond. As part of our final assignment as interns, we reflected together on lessons learned from our time applying our practical and theoretical understandings of community development (especially international community development) within our Haitian context. This series called "What we Found" includes excerpts from my reflections made in 2010.