Beyond the Buzzword: Sustainability
As many of you know, I'm pretty heavily involved in the non-profit scene. My day job, my volunteer job, my past job, all were in the non-profit sector. Most of my friends work for non-profits, and I often find myself writing needs statements, crafting newsletters, and obsessing about how hard or soft to make an ask--in my sleep.Lately my do-gooder friends and I have been talking a lot about non-profit philosophy, asking questions like, "Why are non-profits defined by what they don't do (make money) instead of by what they accomplish? When is a non-profit really self-sustaining? Is sustainability even the point? Aren't we supposed to work ourselves out of a job?" My head is swirling with unresolved questions and answers and ideas, which means, per usual, I will be attempting to work them out by writing them out. And so write, I did. A couple days I ago I shared my thoughts on one of today's biggest buzzwords, sustainability, on the SERES blog, an incredible non-profit where I'm spending my days here in Guatemala.
I write,
"The big buzzword in both the development world and the green movement today is sustainability.If only we could get our development to be sustainable, our lifestyles to be sustainable, our projects and impacts and businesses to be sustainable.But from where I live in Guatemala, I look around at the shoe shine boys in the park, dark polish staining their hands, at the families who curl up to sleep outside, at the little girl selling sweets to tourists during school hours. I look at the horrifying statistics of poverty and malnutrition in the region and wonder who in their right mind would want to sustain or preserve, protect or conserve, this status quo.Instead of focusing on sustainability, shouldn’t we first work toward creating a quality of life that’s worth sustaining?"
Check out the rest of the post, Beyond Sustainable, here.I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas and non-tax-deductible two-cents on the topic of sustainability and world-building and do-gooding, whether here on Memoirs of Algeisha or over at SERES.How do you help build a world that's worth sustaining? Do you think sustainability should be our ultimate goal as non-profits and businesses, as families and individuals? What's your experience with the non-profit world?
What's Better Than Holding Foreign Babies?
Forget holding foreign babies, I have finally stumbled upon my most favorite volunteer activity. In fact, I enjoy it so much I almost wonder if I should be the one paying them to do it.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that my ideal service opportunity is what I do everyday here on this blog.
My happy helping? Blogging,what else?
I am proud to say I am officially a volunteer blogger for an organization based here in Guatemala called Roots and Wings International (RWI). RWI works in the very poor, very rural area of Nahuala, Solola, approximately 3.5 hours southwest of Guatemala City.
RWI creates educational opportunities to promote development as defined by the local communities themselves. RWI's work is rooted in recognizing the importance of culturally responsive education that empowers students to connect their cultural identity with sustainable social and economic development.
Winner.
I love the fact that they utilize all local staff from the communities where they work. Education is a major problem here in Guatemala and I am happy to use my words, my experiences in Central America, and my love of blogging to promote RWI’s programs and fundraising initiatives and raise awareness about development issues in Guatemala.
Learn how they're changing lives through education on their website and check out their blog and my first post, Seeking bright spots in Guatemala.
Blog Hopping
Please hop on over and check out my post, Confessions of an International Nonprofit Hopper.
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