While I agree lack of financial resources my be one the reasons for problems in West Nile, I disagree that the state of affairs in West Nile (poor education standards, poor service delivery, etc) is a result of lack of money or financial resources. The issue John has raised especially with the West Nile Foundation activities is not due to lack of money. I still go back to what Mr. Ejiku opined a few weeks ago about commitment and dedication, careful planning, and involvement of the people on the ground in West Nile we talk so much about on this forum. If a strategic plan about improving the lives of the people in West Nile was drawn with a commitment from a few people who will The issues we always talk about so much need to be share with the community on the ground so that we also gather and include their views and input in the planning and decision process. Sometimes we think we know the solutions to the local people's problem, when actually they may have the best solutions to their problems. I believe money is not as much of the issue as John has presented, but generally attitude change, education (not academic) and awareness of the population in looking at some of the problems. Sacrifice is another word which we do not often use when it comes to discussing many of these community issues. I do agree with John on lack of team work as observed with the political representatives. Rather than pointing figures at the politicians we should rather ask ourselves individually what we have done for our community as individuals. I think one the most important things West Nile Foundation needs to do if it is really hoping to make itself relevant and involved in helping to improve the lives of the people in the region is to go out and interact with the population in West Nile. Gather peoples views about the difficulties they experience in terms of services and seek their views about how they can work hand in hand with the community to address some of the problems experienced by the community. Certainly the Foundation can not solve all the problems of the region, but can at least contribute to advocacy in many of the areas, such as education, energy, food security, environment, social services, etc. However advocacy requires commitment and dedication and open two way communication with the people the organization will be advocating for and a clear purposeful planned activities which involves the input of the people. The dirty work is in gathering information to isolate and understand the problem and state he problem which requires team work, open communication, commitment, dedication, thoughtful and careful planning. I can still recall in 2009 or 2010 when there was famine problem and some problems a community experienced where their homes were torched. A few members on this forum were quick to react selflessly and we contributed over 3 million shillings in almost a week or two. Look at the numerous funerals the community constantly is able to contribute to, because the cause of the contribution is genuine and understood. Money is not in my view the limiting factor but out ability to be organized, focused, dedicated, committed and work as a team to help one another is what we lack as a community.
Vasco On Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 12:29 PM, JohnAJackson <javud...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear brothers and sisters, > > I have read the recent commends and the manner in which we have addressed > various problems with PASSION, EMPATHY, SYMPATHY > > - for many years, our political system has always been that we elect > MPs, they go to the Parliament for 5 years. We rarely see them until the > next election or a funeral or some other celebration. This trend of doing > business with the community seems to continue unchallenged or unchanged. > - MPs are elected to stand in the Parliament on behalf of the > community, millions of people who cannot go to the parliament and present > their problems. > - Unfortunately, majority of our MPs forget the basic tenet of their > job. STAND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE, REPRESENT PEOPLES' PROBLEM. > - we have all seen the problems of Party system of of ruling and > bitter competition, this happens all over the world. > - Our electortae is mostly ignorant of their rights or too naive about > their rights > - You can see the consequences of cheap politics where politicians > come home during elections and they buy people SALT, SUGAR, DRINKS or Kill > A goat, People get so satisfied that they have gotten a fair share/deal. > - We all need to re-educate ourselves on FAIRNESS to the Community. > Hold our elected representatives accountable to the people who elected > them. > > Lack of team work among out MPs > > - Last year we all cried for team work among our MPs and formation of > West Nile Caucus MPs Forum. Not sure if this is working at all. > - I am not sure if our MPs realize the benefit of team work. Instead > of working as a team, there is bitter competition over the meager > resources. > - When you throw a bone for many dogs, each dog will always want a > bite even if the bone has no muscles/meat. Just licking the bone seems to > satisfy each dog. > > Team work among us as community has been lacking for many, many years and > seems to be our biggest trouble. > > - As many talented youth graduate from schools/colleges/universities, > we all migrate to the cities in search of basic survival. > - Most of us have forgotten about our own roots back in the > village/counties. Sometimes even the homes where we were bone. > - As rural areas get depleted of TALENT MEN AND WOMEN, Who do we leave > in the village?????. These are unfortunate realities of urbanization. > - The dire need for team work and leadership among us cannot be over > emphasized. > > Reuniting our efforts in Directing West Nile Foundation & Community > Development > > - we have come to realize that we all need to work together as a team, > therefore, we formed WEST NILE FOUNDATION (WNF) > - We all need to build synergy and effort in directing WNF in > community Development. > - Unfortunately WNF needs financial resources for start off as Charles > Male had alluded to. Before you go out to seek donations, all donors want > you to demonstrate that you can sustain yourselves after they give you > - some money. > - We all need to reach out to our friends, brothers, sisters wherever > they leave. Majority of our people still live in West Nile region. > - Many of us are leaders, Managers, Directors, etc in organizations we > work for. > - We all need to bring out talent home, REBUILD STRONG COMMUNITY > PROGRAMS FOR DEVELOPMENT. > > Constructive Criticism, Sharing Vision, New ideas, New Approaches to > problem solving, Creativity > > - Most successful companies today emphasize/bring/recruit people who > are PROBLEM SOLVERS, CREATIVE THINKERS > > JJ > > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > WestNileNet@kym.net > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > > WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > >
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