The Affero Blog

Appropriate? Technology

By Barak Bruerd in Articles

In nearly every situation in the West, technology plays an important role in dishing up services and solving problems. The more hi-tech and the more efficient the technology, the more we like it. Consequently, when we step into the context of poverty, our natural response is to search for a technological solution. After all, poverty is primarily a physical issue… right? Wrong. But that’s for another post (or two; or five).

That said, technology plays a critical role in addressing the aspects of poverty that are physical. Unfortunately the latest-greatest technology is not always the best. In fact, it’s often the worst. More times than I count I’ve watched universities, companies, and other entities pour millions into research to develop a fancy widget that works fabulously in a laboratory surrounded by techno-geeks, knowing with deep sadness that it’s a terrible solution to the problem they are trying to solve because it has been completely divorced from the context in which it will be used.

Though the term is kicked around in many circles, NGO’s refer to “appropriate technology” as technology that is contextualized for a given situation, offering an optimum balance in service delivery and sustainability. Very often, these two are in tension with one another and selecting the right technology is not always easy. However, there are five basic criterial that can be used to judge the appropriateness of any technology for use in a community development project.

These simple criteria are critical in technology selection. A reverse osmosis system may offer fantastic water quality but the cost and technical requirements are high, making sustainability in a rural community extremely low. A ceramic water filter may be a low-cost, simple solution but if it’s longevity only extends 2-3 years and is not easily replaced locally, it is only a bandaid solution. Chlorine is inexpensive and locally available but many cultures resist chemical treatment or greatly dislike the taste and therefore reject it’s use.

What’s brilliant is that it doesn’t take a PhD to ask these questions or evaluate the answers. What technologies and solutions do you see on the news, on websites, or out in the field that meet or don’t meet these criteria? Play Pumps is a technology recently in the news for it’s reported ongoing failure in the field. It’s a sexy and techie solution to water access but how well does it meet the criteria above as an appropriate technology? Are there situations where it would be more or less appropriate? Though our role is small, we play an integral part in the poverty equations and we have a joint responsibility with implementing organizations to evaluate and ensure that the solutions used are effective. The answers aren’t easy and compromise is a necessary staple of most projects, but best practices in development have strong principles that have to be applied if we are to achieve any measure of long-term success.

A quick note before I sign off: in humanitarian relief, these criteria overlap, but with some very key differences. Humanitarian relief is not about solving poverty, but about responding to life-threatening emergencies. Considerations for sustainability, cultural sensitivity, cost etc, tend to take a back-seat role in the face of saving lives. Effectiveness and rapid deployment in high volumes with consideration for short-term usability tend to be the primary determinants in technology selection. Later, we’ll be talking more about the differences between relief and development but know that technologies that are perfect for relief are often poor choices for development and vice versa.

~ Peace

Rebuilding Nations Through Orphans – #iminuganda

By Lucas Parry in News

Today was an exciting day, Marc finally arrived in Kampala just in time for our road trip departure tomorrow. His 24 hour journey turned into a 60 hour nightmare, with 2 missed connections in Chicago and London then bags lost en route. He’s now stocked up with some fresh clothes and toiletries ready for the adventure.

Today we met most of the staff from Empower A Child, An amazing organization doing some great work in Kampla and Rakai. In our conversations we discovered that half of the management team grew up in child sponsorship programs. The founder and Executive Director of the organization Wilson Kabeera has a tremendous story that will move you to tears (we will post his video interview soon). His story along with the others reminded me of this simple truth. There are families in the US (that’s where the sponsors came from) who have had such a profound impact on one Ugandan life, who have now grown up and are leading an organization that is impacting 1000′s of children’s lives across the country. I don’t think the sponsor families ever could have guessed the impact they we’re having as they faithfully gave to the education and well being of these little children in Uganda. If it wasn’t for them, these leaders would never be changing the world and helping to build a nation through education and training young leaders. Every one of them still has all of the letters from their sponsors!

So, first let me say. If you already sponsor a child – write them letters of encouragement. It may seem small, but your encouragement will last a lifetime and have more impact than you could ever imagine. And secondly, if you don’t sponsor, do so. Check out our partners LifeSong for Orphans – www.lifesongfororphans.org or visit their project page here on Affero www.afferoproject.com/organizations/lifesong-for-orphans/

An Artist, A Writer… A Super Hero Duo

By Beau Miller in News

We all know that The Affero Project is all about community. A community of passionate people with hearts for serving other communities across the globe. So, I figured that it might be good to introduce all of you to some of our amazing Affero community members in my blog each week. The last blog post I wrote profiled our friends Larry and Elizabeth, who set up Affero accounts for their two young kids to teach them about social justice and serving those in need. Super cool, huh? Well, today should be no different, as I’d like to introduce you to two more Affero friends, a husband and wife team named Ashley and Steve…

Ashley and Steve are really fascinating people. They grew up in Ohio and recently journeyed on to Connecticut, where they work/serve at a school for children with social and/or emotional difficulties. Ashley is a very gifted art teacher and photographer who is brimming with patience and compassion, and Steve is currently serving as the world’s greatest, and possibly most surprising physical education teacher. Most surprising? Yes. Steve isn’t exactly what you’d call a “sports guy.” He ‘s an extremely talented creative writer who loves comic books (he insists they’re called graphic novels, but I don’t get it), Zombie movies and social media. But, when he got to Connecticut to finish his degree, he learned that the school needed a physical education teacher and he jumped on board. This is just the kind of people they are. Ready to spring into action and serve others, no matter how crazy the call. I am pleased to tell you that things are going great for them, as they truly feel like they’re fulfilling their purpose in life right now. And Steve, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about the time you asked me to send you schematics on how to actually hold a football. Your secret is safe with me; the students will never know.

To bring the message home, I must tell you that when I started working with Affero, Steve and Ashley were two of the first people I called. I was so filled with enthusiasm, as I still am now, that as soon as they answered I started rambling about how cool Affero was, what a revolution it would be, and how many lives could be impacted through the community. Before I even got to the end, or gave them the pitch as to why they should sign up, Steve cut me off and said, “We’re in. Signing up now!” Again, that’s just the kind of people they are. They believe in what Affero is doing, and felt led to pour themselves into the project. Just thinking about that call fills me joy and makes me proud to call them my friends. And that’s not all. Steve and Ashley have also offered to share their tremendous creative gifts with us, and all of you, in the form of blogging and photography for Affero! So, be on the lookout for some sweet blog posts from Steve each week, and some killer photos from Ashley in the future! And there you have it. An artist and a writer, or as I like to call them, a super hero duo for serving others. That’s all for this week. Thanks Asher & Steve-O…Keep living the revolution.

Parents Using Affero Project to Empower Their Children and Teach Compassion

By Beau Miller in News

Hey everyone, here’s a little something that I thought was really cool and wanted to share with all of you.  I have a great friend and fellow member of the Mosaic church community named Larry.  A couple of weeks before Affero launched, I called Larry to tell him all about it.  I must admit, the first reason for my call was that I knew he had some spare change, and secondly, I knew I could strong arm him and threaten him enough to get him to cough it up.  After all, I’m bigger than he is and he would do anything to avoid me tickling him or picking him up and putting him in my pocket.  Just kidding, the real reason I called Larry is because he is a great man with a true servant heart and a burning desire to help those in need.

So, not surprisingly, right after I told Larry about Affero he was on board 100%, and said he’d sign up.  Like the noble, handsome (you’re welcome Larry) and generous man he is, he did sign up – with a total of three separate accounts!  Three accounts!?!?  Yeah, this is the cool part.  Larry decided that it would be one thing for he and his beautiful wife Buffy (in this case I actually mean it) to set up an account and give, but it would be even cooler if they could involve their young kids, Benjamin and Savannah.  So, Larry and Buffy (who are in the running for Affero’s Parents of the Year award), sat down with the kids at the computer and told them all about The Affero Project and what they could do to be a part of changing the world.  They read over the categories, let the kids see what each org needed, and then, after they set up accounts in Benjamin and Savannah’s names, they got to vote for where they wanted their money to go.  They were so excited, and were practically begging Larry to go out in the cool Affero t-shirts I promised them (and have yet to deliver), and tell the world the good news.  How cool is this?  Seriously, what a beautiful vision for connecting with your kids, and in turn, connecting them to their global neighbors in need!  Encouraging a life of giving and compassion from a very young age – sweet!

Often times kids grow up thinking that giving to charity is something for their parents to do.  Their parents will worry about the orphans, widows and the poor for now – and then someday in the future, it will be their turn to learn what social justice is all about and start giving.  But much applause to Larry and Buffy for using their God-given creativity to give their amazing kids a voice in the fight right now.  Just imagine what Benjamin and Savannah will be doing ten years from now.  I can tell you this much, I know they’ll be doing something extraordinary.  So, parents out there, this is a time that it might be good to tear out a page from Larry and Buffy’s parenting playbook.  Affero is all about empowering people, and no matter how young your kids may be, they want to be a part of something bigger.  They want to help.  So consider setting up Affero accounts for them, and just wait to see the joy in their eyes and on their hearts when they get to decide if their dollar is going to be the dollar that is used to dig a well in Africa or for schooling for Dominican kids.  It’s a powerful thing, and we are excited to hear the stories of your little kids, doing big things in our world.

Peace & Love,

Beau