Here’s the skinny: Small, grassroots organizations that focus on specific projects operated by the local community are often more effective and accountable than gargantuan, broad based, NGOs.
I am really excited about my good friend, actress Megalyn Echikunwoke’s, new education project for women and girls in Nigeria, her father’s native country. The mission of the organization, called W.E.A.P.O.N (Women, Education, Arts, Providing Opportunity Now!) is this:
“Project by project and community by community W.E.A.P.O.N will create partnerships with local leaders, art centers, schools, and existing organizations, to develop and provide funding for specific arts and education projects designed to empower and support the women and girls in that community.
There are a few reasons I like this idea.
- First of all, Megalyn, being Nigerian herself, has a personal connection to her cause that will never fade, regardless of how much (or little) it appears in the news.
- Second, her decision to support local projects on the ground that are already proving to be effective, and are only in need of additional support, is a smart one. For example, they will provide full secondary school scholarships to young women so they don’t have to drop out and lose their chance at escaping the cycle of wasted brain power that leads to maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, abuse, and other preventable tragedies. It is nearly impossible to import expertise into a foreign community without running into issues of trust, miscommunication, and fleeting fancy (when the volunteers have had enough and want to go back to Wisconsin.) By choosing to partner with existing education programs, W.E.A.P.O.N, and any other org that runs this way, is approaching the issue at hand with respect for the wisdom only gained from experience.
- Third, it’s an education program for girls! As I’ve quoted when discussing Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer prize winning journalists, and co-authors of Half The Sky,“There’s a growing recognition among everyone from the World Bank to the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff to aid organizations like CARE that focusing on women and girls is the most effective way to fight global poverty and extremism.
I have deep respect for this organization’s goal, and the way they intend to achieve it. They are passionate, and committed to being specific and effective, while respecting and collaborating with the local community. This is an example of someone identifying a problem and deciding to take action, despite the often harrowing and thankless process of running a small organization.
Support W.E.A.P.O.N’s exciting mission HERE
