It's Complicated

One of my priorities this year for BECA is to work on the sustainability of the organization. 

This is a buzzword one hears often in development circles. It can mean different things to different people.

Here's my working definition: BECA will continue along fine enough if I'm hit by a truck.

The reality is that right now, we're very far away.

And I accept complete responsibility. It hasn't been my focus up to this point. Nevertheless, if a development newbie were to ask me for advice, I would tell them to make this implicit in every decision they make from the very beginning.

So, while I'm a little late to the sustainability game, my plan this year is to do my darndest to see what I can figure out.

Case in point. Last night, I met for the second time with the Estelí Rotary Club ("Los Rotarios"). This is a group of 8 to 10 local business people who are committed to local service projects.

And they are a nice, very welcoming group of people.

Three of us made a presentation to them two weeks ago. Our mission: to convince them to get involved with BECA in some way. We presented two ideas; i) that they organize homestays for students coming to study from outside the city, and ii), that they form an advisory board.

Last night they told me what they thought.

"Walter, we are going to apply to Rotary International in the United States for financial support for scholarships."

"What about the homestay idea?" I replied.

"Well, that is complicated. And it really isn't in our culture to do that."

Huh?

It's complicated?

I'm starting to realize what I'm up against here.

It isn't indifference. After all, these well-meaning people graciously serve their community with no hint of compensation.

But it is a tendency to expect the gringos, or europeans, or martians for that matter to come to the rescue and solve their problems.

And it isn't completely their fault. The well-meaning do-gooder organizations -- including BECA -- can share the blame for not working hard enough to include local actors in their projects.

Bottom line. I know they agree with me when I tell them that when a young, ambitious Nicaraguan from the country comes to BECA for an opportunity to study but needs a helping hand with accommodation, the last thing she wants to hear is:

"Sorry. We can't help you with that. It's complicated."