The unprecedented and very literally immediate withdrawal of US foreign aid will directly lead to increased child labour and marriages, teenage pregnancies and suicides, unless the gigantic hole their departure has left behind can be compensated for.
Children fleeing war deserve appropriate resources to ensure appropriate protection – this requires seamless collaboration between governmental and non-governmental institutions in the humanitarian context. When the mission is accomplished, or in the unfortunate event of having to leave before that, effective institutions inform collaborators of a transition period and pass on the reins accordingly.
To whom it may concern,
In the Spring of 2018 I befriended a wonderful bloke from the US during exchange studies at Uppsala University. We were standing in line at one of the student nations night clubs when he asked with a straight face whether the travel water filter his mother had bought him would be useful in a country like Sweden. One of the most sincere and also intentionally funny human beings I will come across. Funny, considerate and passionate about his course on dinosaurs in the least nerdy way one can be passionate about a course on dinosaurs. Always willing to share whatever he had.
One day our friendship was spiced up but never stained by his innocent open question: “What do people here think of Trump”. Despite quoting from memory that about 9/10 disapprove of him and sharing an unusually honest opinion, (although in retrospect it may have been closer to ¼) him turning out to be a die-hard Trump never interfered with our friendship. Not surprised that such a personality had a tight friend group, we had a hilarious party when his friends flew for a round-tour of Europe. Having obviously been primed to the setting, only their MAGA-hats would differentiate the somewhat immature yet kind-spirited frat boys from our somewhat immature frat boys.
Over the course of last month or so we have seen the serious repercussions of impulsive decisions being felt in communities by the thousands. Closing offices and terminating contracts of people delivering services such as education, child protection or reusable menstrual hygiene kits in a humanitarian context for peanuts are tragedies on an individual level. To expand, school drop-out, child labor, child marriage, teenage pregnancies, suicides, which had been diminishing before, WILL be on the rise due to ACTIVE decisions made in Washington D.C.
Traumatized communities of thousands and thousands are again restless in their new home country seeing opportunities (and food rations, although that is another topic) taken away or shrinking. This of course includes the teacher lucky enough to still hold their post, most refugees in the settlements themselves, delivering lessons and making sense of the situation to the 200 learners sitting in their classroom. In the morning that is, attendance in the afternoon lessons tend to decrease due to the “reprioritization” of food rations due to funding shortages affecting participation in the absence of school lunch.
Teachers are at the front of the war for peace. Take the example of the Good Samaria Primary school, where the construction of 4 classrooms changed the learner to classroom ratio from 1:385 to 1:250. The rough terrain, hot and overcrowded classrooms, lack of learning materials and the varying backgrounds of learners challenge the teachers. Talks of budget cuts and lay-offs in the settlement further strain the wellbeing of teachers as they worry for futures of the learners, the community and themselves. Yet I was left impressed by the dedication of the teachers, thorough lesson plans and especially the dozens of engaging routines, dances and songs used to (re-)direct attention, appreciate and promote active participation and foster unity in classrooms. The significance of unity can not be understated when tensions and trauma from the South-Sudan conflict inevitable affect dynamics in the communities too, especially when food and water resources are scarce. A significant source of stress is naturally concern for the well-being of learners, with abrupt end to funding exacerbating the problem.
“Development aid induces passivity” is a common rebuttal for development aid used to justify cuts, usually accompanied by juxtaposition to what could be done with the resource instead. A fair argument in some instances but in some cases outdated. How do those arguments hold in relation to overnight shutdown of funding for empowering structures such as trainings for Village Savings & Loans Associations, peace clubs or… a school? Or investment in the capacity of teachers at the forefront of peace and prosperity for lasting impact?
To be fair, this is not just a US issue. In my country it is often argued that instead of accepting refugees they should be supported closer to the countries of departure as it is cheaper, which is of course already the case. Uganda alone hosts 1,8 million refugees. The sentiment was recently reflected in my country´s decision to reduce its annual intake of refugees to 500, which is in line with the long-term trend. Fair play. Reflecting the spreading self-centeredness in the West and collective cognitive dissonance of “soulless Europe”, the same actors simultaneously slashed development aid while also campaigning on and promoting “Judeo-Christian values”. There is an obvious contradiction between both logic as well as outspoken values and objective reality. of all the players involved in these decisions voiding the credibility of the message and the messenger. I am sure this enlightens why some would consider us barbaric at worst or full of shit at best.
That inauthenticity I suggest, should be expanded and verbalized any time the topic is mentioned from the paper to the local pub argument. While the matter is of course political you don’t even need to change parties. At the very least you may contact your representative and demand they lobby your concern. Leaving that responsibility to NGO´s and civil society, often recipients of funds, may “reinforce the perception that aid funds bloated bureaucracies rather than real solutions” *. Communicating to a representative does not take long and is easily within your power. Or accept that the well-being of hundreds of thousands of learners, mothers, teachers, entrepreneurs and such is not important to you personally and how that reflects on you. Europe by the way is starting their negotiations for a future financial framework. I am confident that if the majority is active and listened to, positive change will come.
*Seeing folks here write applications for funding in the evenings having spent the day in the settlements having eaten nothing but a couple biscuits makes you think. People working on something self-evidently valuable are begging for crumbs so they could continue sacrificing most of their time awake away from their families supporting those in need. This seems perverse especially considering that much of the private wealth created in and from different parts of the globe is recycled through the US (Wall Street) not benefitting said country´s citizens education or healthcare either. Yet 0,24% of gross national income for these causes was a step too far. But that’s just like, uhh, my opinion, man.
YOU (me) have a responsibility, whether you vote on these matters or not. I encourage to be honest with what your values are and not to hide from the consequences of your actions. As long as one is not lying to themselves and/or others, I can appreciate the informed viewpoint on any matter. Just be mindful that these things are happening because millions of people gave their backing to it; teammates, colleagues, barbers, “bro´s” or whoever. You may be one of them. In fairness, perhaps most would not have, if they had understood or believed the consequences and took an honest look in the mirror? Or if they had heard and registered the multiple “thank you´s” on the ground?
I opine that this straight-forward logic should be made abundantly clear whenever these matters are discussed. On that note, much of the positive impact already achieved in communities here and elsewhere will be lasting and support from elsewhere can be rallied for and should be available. This is just a matter of active collective organizing of labour and resources similarly to how things have been actively disorganized.
One more thing on the matter: if a city the size of Vantaa or Uppsala received hundreds of learners on a monthly basis there would surely be cries for support from other countries to sustain the education system despite its esteemed status and relatively strong resources. Simultaneously issuing budget cuts overnight forcing teacher lay-offs would be a disaster, and the remaining teachers’ well-being considering both the increased workload and worry of their own job security would be broadcast daily. Uganda hosts a dozen similar settlements to Palorinya. Despite the influx of new learners, previous efforts from many different stakeholders (also effected by budget cuts) have been rewarded with tangible results in increased enrollment, retainment and literacy among other things. Such results are possible despite a likely influx of newcomers with appropriate support to the local communities including the teachers. If neglected we are to witness what suffers the most when two elephants fight: the grass.
In a perhaps soon-to-be-closed office in Moyo, I wonder whether this extinction-level news ever reaches the screens of churches and living rooms in the Midwest—or if it does, whether it is dismissed as fake news, as long as one was not there to witness the asteroid with their own eyes.
Most people have their heart in the right place regardless of their occupation, whether it be in education, healthcare, retail, business, technology, manufacturing and so on. Readers like you are often already active in improving communities through work, volunteering, donations, or all three. Thus, it would be fair and productive to ask more from the influential individuals, entrprises and organizations ignoring their part on the platforms available to you. Meanwhile you may consider that the FCA is considered among the more effective charitable organizations. Christmas, birthday, confirmation or graduation coming up? Consider an alternative gift.
The next cycle of the recruiting process for TwBs opened up 18th of March 2025. The whole application process will be in English.
Blue Karibu 