Generation NGO

Edited by Alisha Apale, Valerie Stam

Young Canadians are increasingly active and engaged in global issues. Many are eagerly poised to contribute—in smaller and even larger ways—to international development and the Canadian national politics that, for better or worse, shape the field.

Generation NGO captures some of the first impressions of these young international development professionals before they are relegated to the dusty corners of memory. It provides snapshots of some of their first experiences with inequality and poverty, power and privilege, stereotypes, identity, social location, prejudice, and injustice. It is as much about questions as it is about answers. These essays illustrate the continual negotiation of development workers in positioning and conducting themselves in a morally and ethically charged profession.

Contents

Introduction: Contexts and Consequences
Chapter 1: Walls Topped with Broken Glass: Ecuador–Pike Krpan
Chapter 2: Adding Things up in Namibia–Zoe Khan
Chapter 3: A Night out in Malindi, Kenya–Laura Sie
Chapter 4: No Man Is an Island: Lessons in Interdependence Learned in Barbados–Alika Hendricks
Chapter 5: In a Just World, Displacement Would Be Shocking: Burma and Thailand–Alisha Nicole Apale
Chapter 6: Salama, vazaha! Madagascar– Maro Adjemian
Chapter 7: Travelling to El Otro Lado: Mexico, Panama, Rwanda–Simon Yale Strauss
Chapter 8: Friendship, Inequality, and Professional Development: Ghana, Nicaragua, Peru –Julia Paulson
Chapter 9: Coming Home to Foreignness: Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal–Valerie Stam
Chapter 10: You Go and Come: Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso–Heidi Braun

About the Authors

Alisha Apale coordinates the Aboriginal Health Initiative of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Valerie Stam is a Community Developer at a Community Health Centre in Ottawa.