just read: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

When I arrived in Cambodia my new boss gave me a copy of a book I'd never read. Being the lover of books that I am, I would never refuse a good book recommendation! He told me this book had helped him learn the power of focus, find what your passionate about or do well and commit fully to it. I recently finished reading "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World."

This is a story of one mans personal journey from a life of success as the world defines it - money, title, possessions - to a life of significance. It is his goal to give every child an opportunity to experience the power of reading. In my life, my affinity for reading has opened my mind to possibilities I would not have considered otherwise. I don't go to movies or television to escape, but a good book will take me on a journey to other worlds or through other experiences. I love, love, love to read. I don't always have time to do it, but that doesn't mean my passion for it has wained.

Cambodia is one of the focus countries for Room to Read, the organization founded and led by the author, John Wood. In the book, there is a whole chapter dedicated to the struggles of this country. John saw the need for education here. He saw the need for libraries. I've mentioned before about the lack of capacity in this country and the total destruction of infrastructure by previous rulers. Those things may be true, but most people did not choose illiteracy, rather it was the lack of opportunity that created their circumstances. When given the chance, most welcome the opportunity to learn new things.

The organization I work for helps build schools in the border towns near Thailand. These were not planned communities, they sprung up out of people's desperation for work. Living on the border they can easily cross over in to Thailand as day laborers. There aren't adequate schools in this area of the country due to the transient and poor nature of these communitites. Unfortuately, most kids are either left at home alone until after dark or for days on end while their parents work; or they are asked to work alongside their parents.

Building schools, providing uniforms and working with the government to provide teachers is one aspect of the project. We just submitted a grant to the World Food Program to provide school feedings. Normally school feeding projects provide one to two meals a day at school. Our model is a bit different. There will be one meal per day provided at school and then, if the kids attend school regularly in the week the child will get food to take home to the family. This encourages school attendance for even the most desperate of families. It also helps improve the health of the entire family, not just one child. There will also be special incentives provided for girl children who regularly attend school.

We just opened a new school the week before I left for the Philippines. This is our fifth school in less than six years. Last week, we received an email from the leader of the village that they would also like a school library.

John Wood, if you are reading this maybe there is an opportunity for partnership? Together, we can help more children discover the joy of reading and fill their minds with possibilities for the future.

Quoteable Quotes

“Empowerment is a process whereby the underprivileged view themselves as ‘the principle actors in their lives’, and not purely as subordinates controlled by the activities of the more powerful.”
~Rahman

paying for loyalty?

I've never been a fan of the Iraq war. Not from the first day it was mentioned, until today. I did understand the reasons for invading Afghanistan following 9-11. I believe Clinton's policy of "stop or I'll yell stop again" when the Taliban attacked the USS Cole and a foreign embassy, etc, had actually emboldened the Taliban to try something like the attack on the Twin Towers. As attacks escalated I believed it was only a matter of time until there was an attack on US soil...and then there was. Following the events of 9-11, to stand by and do nothing would have been irrespoinsible. However, I believe involvement in Iraq took our attention away from results in Afghanistan, but now we are there and have destabilized the country, so to pull out at this point would also be irresponsible. Enough about Iraq, this post is about the ongoing question of what to do to weaken the Taliban.

Obama is suggesting we pay Taliban loyalists to defect. You can read the news article from the NY Times here. Sure, there will be plenty of takers to accept the money and they will tell us whatever needs to be said to get the money. However, is loyalty bought truly reliable or sustainable? If loyalty could be bought, what happens when the next bidder comes around asking for loyalty? Will loyalties change again? This sounds like a great plan to be able to claim some victories through monitary incentive, but will it actually make our country safer from the Taliban? I don't think so. The conflict is ideological, not economic.

What do I think would actually make a difference? I believe in the diplomacy of deeds. I believe good can melt even the most bitter and evil heart. Want to make a difference in Afghanistan? Do more good, give young people a different option to matter in this world, give them hope of a brighter future and follow through on these promises to also win the hearts of their parents. I believe more of this will truly change the world - even in Afghanistan.

favorite pic of (last) week

I am going to start posting a blog series called, "favorite pic of the week." It's a pretty simple concept. I am just going to post a picture I like from something I saw or experienced that week. It may not happen every week, but I think it will be a good way to share my experiences of living overseas with you. The picture might be related to work, or just something amusing that I saw...it will come from our experiences, things I would like to share with you.

Manila food distribution

Comments?

Manila - last day

This morning we submitted the proposal to OFDA. Essentially, my job here is done. I requested to go home early. There is so much to do for our transition in Cambodia and in a couple of weeks I am headed to Thailand. I should be home if my duty is completed here. They agreed with my request. So, I am getting on an airplane in the morning and headed back to Cambodia.

As you know if you read the post from yesterday, I didn't get much sleep last night. My day also started early - 6am. I joined a local church in a medical outreach. Basically, we traveled in to one of the areas where the water is starting to recede. I wanted to observe what treatment looks like under these conditions.

You can imagine all the stuff that is floating in the water, or underneath the surface that can't be seen. People end up with some nasty cuts, or if they had open wounds they get infected. I saw a man today whose big toe was nearly severed. Yuck! Since word got out that doctors would be in the area, lots of people with ailments showed up. In the three hours I was there this morning, they had already registered 500 patients and only had four doctor volunteers and a couple of nurses. The system they had was impressive - intake, waiting room, consultation, they even had a pharmacy set up for those who were issued prescriptions (this part we could not have gotten away with in the States).

Their work met a critical need in these communities. As the water remains, the health issues compound. The lasting effects of the flood could be a health crisis - malnutrition (due to lack of food or diarrheal disease), infections, parasites, mosquito born illnesses, and the list goes on. We are doing what we can to avoid such a calamity and it was encouraging to see another local church serving their community. (NOTE this was done completely of their own effort and resources. We simply showed up.)

We have work going all over the island right now - a truck was on the way to the North to deliver much needed supplies, but had to be diverted due to landslides. Since it was looking for another way around, we just detoured it to the west of the island where the incessant rains are currently doing the most damage. We will work with the UN World Food Programme to airlift another batch of supplies to the north. then we have the work in Manila which I have been most involved in.

I have learned a lot participating in this disaster response experience. Just because I'm returning home, doesn't mean the work stops. the work here will continue at least until the end of the month and possible beyond until the end of the year. Please don't forget the people of the Philippines who have been hit by a terrible storm season.