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2 May 2011

NGOs in Somalia and the Rip-off


Over the past 20 or so years , the number of foreign NGOs in Somalia have increased noticeably . Now with so many non-governmental organisations in the region, you would expect to see a real visible positive difference in our society . Instead every once in awhile you see an unrealistic statistic pop up about the number of young mothers who die in child labor , or how 80% of the Somali youth are illiterate . 

I have been in Somalia during the past 4 years , for 10 months each year. Not once did someone knock my door and ask me to fill out a questionnaire , Not once was there a census conducted, Not once did i see an NGO put together an event to educate the public as a whole. Instead what i keep seeing is these very NGOs who claim to help pregnant women waste money that could have bought enough iron tablets for 9 months for at least 10 women .

A few months ago, we were called for a seminar that was about Postpartum hemorrhages and its effects on women. I am not going to deny that it was rather informative ,and i did learn something new . But what bothered me is why hold a luncheon for all the attendants when that same money can be utilized elsewhere. I can manage to eat lunch at home, I can bring along my own pen and paper for the seminar , I do not need a file to hold my papers, I will do just fine without all that .As long as i brought my mind with me , you have nothing to worry about. Your message will get through

Now with all that i have said , I am not pointing fingers nor accusing Every Single NGO of ripping people off. there's always the good and the corrupt , and this post is directed at the corrupt , financially draining NGOs that have done us no good , yet accept large amounts of donations in our name -Somalia.
Donations large enough to send some of their employees on a completely prepaid trip around the world.

Hopefully someday we will all realize how much harm has been done to our society through these so called non-profit organizations.

2 comments:

  1. hei in part i agree with u but remember my dear,,dhibatada weyn iyo sharci l aanta waa somalida dhaxdooda siyasiinteen yaa baritaan ku sameyo???aniga fikirkeyga waa siyasiinta somaliyeed marka ugu horeyso dadka an rabin in nabad dalkas ka dhaco.washington-81@hotmail.com

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  2. It's intersting that you mensioned this. I myself,noticed this first hand, because i've worked for an NGO for a short while. The sad thing is this particular organization i worked at, had few paid workers and more volunteers than they knew what to do with. So naturally, when questionnaires are needed to be filled regarding the communities needs, the leaders would put their volunteers to work, and tell them to search for people they can help. What happened was, most of them, took their questionnaires to their homes and distributed it amongst their cousins or schoolmates because they weren't getting paid enough to walk around Somali's hot sun. Maybe this is why, none of the questionnaires reached your hands. This was a bad call from the NGO'S thus resulting in inaccuracy of information and lack of addressing the real issues... resulting to the plight that is still going on in our country.

    Another fact that i've come across while working for this particular organization, is that they worked so hard to use minimum finances for their community outreach programs, so that most of the cash would be left over to distribute amongst the big corporate GIANTS.. ie the so called founders of the organization. There is much corruption in N Go's im sure and undoubtedly we've a long way to go from here. It's all self interest and self preservation first before the society at large is thought of. its a dog eat dog world out there. The only solution to this problem that i can think of is: employ deeply religious people, who fear for their akhira. Your solutions also are welcome dear sis.
    p.c

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