I Went Abroad Hoping to Help. I Came Back Disillusioned. | Red Ears | Op-Docs

Until 2011, conscription was mandatory for German men, with the option to refuse armed service and do civil service at home or abroad instead. In 2009 at age 19, I chose to go abroad as part of a development aid program, hoping that I would have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a community. I went to Senegal for a one-year civil service assignment for a German nongovernmental organization that I picked from a list of options provided by a ministry’s website.
During my time with the organization, I grew increasingly disillusioned. I didn’t see a development project operating in the way it was described to the public. The sewing school was neglected, the cultural center where I lived was empty, and some donations from Germany disappeared or rotted away in containers. As part of my work, I was eventually asked to volunteer in a hospital in Thiès, which involved many duties that I was not properly trained or prepared for.
Almost 13 years later, I decided to make a film based on my memories, videos and photographs from Senegal, as well as a present-day interview with Madeleine, a friend I made during my time there. The result is this short documentary, which aims to examine the paradigm of foreign aid and volunteerism through the lens of my experiences.
- Film and Text by Paul Drey
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[@susannakriz746]

I'm German and knew such senior officials as shown in this film growing up. They didn't conceal their racism, yet everyone thought of them as blessings to mankind. Thank you, Paul, and thank you, New York Times.

[@user-dl2iy5yv2k]

Just like our American Africans, not concealing their overt racism Only nobody thinks they’re blessing to mankind

[@PunkDogCreations]

Lies

[@marvin2678]

whats your point ?

[@jzakary1]

I am a career aid worker who started as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda. Over the past fifteen years in Africa, Middle East, and recently Ukraine, I have experienced the same problems you speak of. It’s the sad reality that war-torn impoverished countries suffer from corruption, waste, and mismanagement of humanitarian assistance. What keeps us going is focusing on the good we can do for the people we have the capacity to support. Aid work is not about changing the world. We are a pressure relief valve, trying our best to stop everything from boiling over. That said, I think a lot of your disillusionment stemmed from feeling isolated and ineffectual, working for a nonexistent organization. This happens to a lot of interns and volunteers.

[@highestgood5169]

Thank you for this.

[@BebbaDubbs]

Truth. There is also a difference in mindset when it's your choice vs just a less bad option.

[@basiliodidomenico3026]

DOVRESTE STARE A CASA VOSTRA E RISOLVERE I VOSTRI PROBLEMI E NON ESPORTARE LA VOSTRA DEMOCRAZIA DITTATORIALE. IL MALE VI TORNERÀ DIETRO CENTUPLICATO.

[@sashan1281]

I hesitate whenever I see an NGO, also I'll research into Peace Corps as a Ugandan myself. A lot of "stable" countries come into countries they've de-stabilised by purpose and claim they are helping. The realities are if that was the case, such issues would be alleviated by now. Aid work is about changing the world, one step at a time. To say this happens a lot to interns/volunteers is a distraction from the point of his story. This shouldn't be the case or normalised. We all need to do better.

[@macroxela]

One of the main problems is, as much help as you may think NGOs provide, they tend to do more harm that overshadow any benefits provided. It's quite common for local businesses to go out of business wherever NGOs operate since they can't compete with free donations. So locals either lose their jobs, hurting the local economy, or have to turn to the black market (as seen with the donations in this film) and contribute to the local corruption. That's why the Senegalese lady disliked the NGOs. They simply keep this cycle of poverty and harm continuing. The only NGOs that actually help are those that rely not on donations but on improving infrastructure, education, or other things that locals can then maintain and improve independently. Otherwise, they're just feeding this vicious cycle.

[@user-pl1hu2xk9c]

I'm Japanese, volunteerd in Chile as a part of jica program. My friend was a volunteerd in Ruwanda, and she set up NGO's to help children with HIV when she came back here. We donated money to help them, but a staff in Ruwanda took all money we sent. So sad money doesn't reach those people who need the most. It's a big problem always in Africa and other parts of the world.

[@MacrobianNomad]

You missed the entire point of the doc and decided to focus on your own biases shaped by narrow-mindedness!

[@ritahorvath8207]

The other big problem is birth control and education . . . .

[@anthonydawson9556]

Is part of the problem here not with your NGO? Yes corruption saw donations lost, but your NGO is also responsible for ensuring donations reach where they should. Your NGO, like many many others mismanaged allocated funds and donations. Which also raises the question of how effective and needed are NGO's? Are nations better off with development aid if it just fuels crime and corruption?

[@kasikwagoma6740]

@user-pl1hu2xk9c, you see I am an African lady, I want to say I am not surprised about the story from Rwanda. You see Africa is run mostly by the men and these men are serious criminals who specialise not in effective governess but in looting the state coffers,excelling at nepotism, tribalism, corruption, bribery and neglect. If there were prizes for this appalling disgrace my continent would have gotten all the top prizes. The criminality extends to the population at large, the civil service, the police, the military,the judiciary, the medical field etc. It is rotten to the core and that is why my continent struggles to develop. This person who stole the money that was a donation is not a surprise to me, when I was growing up our home helps would steal from us in some cases even arrange for armed robbers to break into our house, it has left very bitter memories. My auntie in Zambia has a cousin who was working for a big company, then one day he rang my auntie who is a doctor in Wales in the UK to tell her that he had not Bern paid for six months because the boss of that company had stolen all the money and fled to the west and is now claiming asylum. So thieving is now a normal part of life in most of Africa. The people who should be enforcing the rule of law are themselves criminals, what a terrible state of affairs.

[@Efhgi]

​@@CR-rm4iyyou can have a rich country where the money never reaches the people

[@claralunow2048]

It was the same for me. I also went in 2010, but to Brazil. We arrived at the organization and we had nothing to do. The only thing we did was clean the house of the organization. I am very sure that there are countless situations like this happening every year, where young people from Germany are sent to another country having nothing to do. It absolutely makes no sense. It would be interesting to uncover the whole structure behind this and who is actually profiting from it.

[@christophereck5576]

True, but the point is a little bit different. People are working for an organization. What kind of organization is it, of there is no work and no help required. In organized crime you have similar structures for money laundering. Main purpose is apparently for a few at the top to profit.

[@fluchschule]

​@@CR-rm4iymight work with people who have a vocational education and experience, vut you can't send 19 year olds into Africa without any guiding, leave them to their own and expect that they'd find their way. This more a recipe for disaster.

[@MK-rw1on]

its peoples morals and for your resume, nothing else

[@d3nza482]

Who's profiting? Person hiring you but not contacting you with any assignments. And those above that person. They are running "do nothing" jobs for themselves AT THE VERY LEAST.

[@victordias1840]

The problems of third world countries are far beyond what a half-dozen well-intentioned white people are capable of solving.

[@AaTahya]

You helping out at the hospital did more good than your entire NGO. 😅

[@moos5221]

That's what you think from watching the video, but you have no idea if that's true or not. Put into perspective, that he was just 19 years old when he was there and while his stay obviously was badly coordinated and his time spent there wasn't (well) planned and efficient, that doesn't mean that the he saw the whole picture at all. Afaik from the video alone the NGO donated several firetrucks and equipment and we have no clue what else the NGO does that isn't reported or known by Mr. Red-Ears. Careful with quick judgements.

[@BwInNewJersey]

The fact that you tried and your experience may be the only real thing worth it

[@T.efpunkt]

Paul, ich hoffe aufrichtig dass du keine post-traumatische Belastung mit dir rumschleppst nach diesem Blick hinter die Kulissen und ich bin beeindruckt von deinem Film. Danke dir für deine Offenheit, deinen Mut, deinen Willen etwas Gutes mit deinem Leben anzufangen. Die Menscheit braucht mehr junge leute wie dich!

[@PHlophe]

*post-traumatische Belastung * ? Alter, Komm schon !

[@T.efpunkt]

@@PHlophe ja, PTBS. Kann passieren im Krankenhaus. Traurig dass du so stumpf zu sein scheinst.

[@cittrixxx]

​@@PHlopheich glaub ne Menge Menschen würden ptbs kriegen wenn sie ohne jede Ausbildung im Krankenhaus arbeiten müssten. Dieser Mann musste ohne jeden Plan am Mensch operieren und man sieht auch am Interview am Ende wo er noch jung war das ihm das richtig zu schaffen macht

[@Hudute]

@@PHlophenatürlich kann eine PTBS bei einem solchen Dienst entstehen. So wurde es bei mir und bei vielen anderen ehemaligen Freiwilligen in meinem Umfeld offiziell diagnostiziert. So etwas entsteht nicht nur bei Michael Bay reifen Actionszenen.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@saltiestsiren]

It's refreshing to see the veil lifted so we can see beyond the European and North American newspaper photos for once. I'll never claim that humanitarian efforts don't do any good in countries that need it, but it's not as effective or even warranted as it's made out to be. Especially with the so-called "mission trips" where Christian churches offer a pittance in exchange for indoctrination.

[@irondragonmaiden]

Even NGOs who are serious but small are 100% dependent on whether they get grants or funds for projects. As having a project is the difference between having the money to pay thee staffs' salaries or not. This leads to NGOs making project proposals based on what the donors deem to be the most interesting topic du jour rather than projects that are necessary/are pertinent, because the small NGOs struggle to keep the lights on.

[@GladysAlicea]

I learned the hard way that “Catholic Charities” isn’t a charity. Any money they give is a loan.

[@moos5221]

Yeah, the focus of all christian missions is to recruit followers of their cult, sadly.

[@allezeitderwelt]

I was in India with the same government program and the NGO was very corrupt as well... I came back very disillussioned.

[@creativityb2457]

Which NGO was it?

[@rexelagapay7579]

'If you have the money they will treat you, if not..." That also happens in my country.

[@freyashipley6556]

And in mine, the USA.

[@thersten]

Same here. And I'm in the United States. Actually if you're completely poor then you can go to the emergency room and they'll save your life. And then throw you out into the street until you're almost dead again.

[@HisameArtwork]

​@@freyashipley6556 it's an issue in Romania too, Senegal isn't special though they may think they are. We had comunism too, corruption is still high. We're lucky we have the delta so we were useful to NATO and that Ukraine is between us and Russia, nice buffer to hide behind. If we had the wars Senegal had we'd be the same.

[@Bell_plejdo568p]

What does having communism do with it and also Senegal resources are stolen by france@@HisameArtwork

[@Frivals]

​@@HisameArtworkyou wanted capitalism and not you cry that you are not treated if you don't have much money 🤦‍♂️ stupidity

[@bz09034]

The billions that are thrown at these countries in aid and it just disappear through corruption, mismanagement and lethargy. The disillusionment is heartbreaking.

[@TheShortStory]

Billions go in, but more goes out, to Western and increasingly Eastern businesses. The African continent is squeezed even though colonialism supposedly ended

[@WojciechowskaAnna]

@@TheShortStory that's victim mentality. Neglect is in the head, not money. Look what happened to South Africa.. once ANCi started to rule - total collapse of country. Look what Venesuela did with their oil.

[@TheShortStory]

@@WojciechowskaAnna "Victim mentality"... It's pointing out demonstrable flows of money, resources and power, but sounds like your ideology prevents you from seeing it.

[@WojciechowskaAnna]

@@TheShortStory have you heard about working and education? White people were creating schools and building houses.

[@WojciechowskaAnna]

@@TheShortStory it's victim mentality. Even poor white European houses were creating schools, making electricity networks and water system in much harder climate. Try to live in Finland you will understand

[@jasonross5358]

God bless you for going to help and for telling the truth. There are many who go with good hearts and do good. You have exposed those who take advantage of NGO status and likely funnel the donation money elsewhere. The world needs to know.

[@GladysAlicea]

Most of my life, NGO was a strange, unheard of word. Humanity is constantly ripped off. This is just another grift in most cases.

[@jaimeortega4940]

Aid NGOs and others are ripe with waste and mismanagement. "Old sewing machines and rotting clothes." The cost of shipping for that container from Germany is ridiculously expensive. Probably more than its contents. Its better to give money to them there and let them buy locally the things they really need with no shipping. I disagree with his adoptive Senegalese mother however help is good however it must be studied and targeted. A plan of action must be created with a clear goal, cost and timeline. Then people carefully selected who are the most capable / highest probability people of implementing the plan. This rarely happens - no plans, no goals, no cause of action, nothing - subsequently this film.

[@joyesjames8773]

Give money directly like China did? No the money will only go to the pocket of those corrupted and rich😅

[@kathy6937]

Giving money makes no sense in a corrupt system.

[@T.efpunkt]

​@@kathy6937 it does make a lot of sense. The questions is who you're giving the money to, the people or institutions? Microloans are a very effective tool to uplift communities

[@cooperveit3289]

Look up GiveDirectly they have thought far more about this stuff than any of the commenters here have

[@planckismus]

Do you think there are local sewing machine manufacturers in Senegal? I don't. They have to be transported their either way.

[@saskia.h]

Amazingly well done. Thank you for telling this story.

[@mrjgilbert]

I spent a summer in West Africa in 2010 with a Church organization. I related a lot to Paul’s feeling guilty for not “helping” more. We did some service work and talked to students about Christianity (not in a pushy way and it was college age peers). They liked the English language practice and I appreciated them engaging with us. I definitely felt a burden for being supported financially to be there and felt I had to check the boxes of my sending organization. In the end, I felt we didn’t have much to contribute to the locals other than spending in the local economy. While we were a respectful group, I still look back and think they were very kind to put up with us and host us. I’m grateful to the people we met and for that summer, but always have looked back with mixed emotions.

[@mariogirod6195]

That’s why I think tourism to less wealthy countries is actually a much better way to support their growth. You leave your money in the local economy. Also, the local suit honest work can make a good living.

[@mikethespike7579]

I've known dozens of people who spent time abroad as aid workers, mostly in Africa or South America. They all started off as idealists and came back as cynics. It's absurd to send unqualified aid workers to these countries. They're usually even more helpless than the people they're supposed to help.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

Amazing documentary. I love how you perfectly captured that malaise of being in a sort of limbo, having nothing to do, no direction, combined with the inexperience of youth. An important message. I love how you captured this. Makes me wish I had had a camera and the forethought to do similar when I was young 💜 Your chickens were very cuwte!

[@19jepoy86]

I see myself in this gentleman so thank you for doing what you did and permitting this to be shared.

[@MohammedLiswi]

This story and the video would help reevaluating the aid programs. Thanks for sharing.

[@RunningTree]

Regardless of how you feel, you did a great thing that where we all to be active then would be the answer. It still is the answer, you are simply among the few who are in the right, among a select few who are also active volunteers or aid workers . Thank you to all of the lifelong humanitarian workers and volunteers!

[@distrologic2925]

I had a feeling it wasn't working out, seeing that nothing had really changed within my lifetime. What I don't understand is how it can be so difficult to get people working on honest solutions in such a empoverished society.

[@distrologic2925]

@@lourdesbernardstudio the us are not empoverished but good one, usa hater

[@JasperKlijndijk]

Institution rot is the worst thing a society can have

[@distrologic2925]

@@JasperKlijndijk Were there ever any functioning institutions? I mean where there are none today? I think in many places they just haven't come up yet, its more of a transitional stage than something that has rotten.

[@GloryDaze73]

I think, deep down, globally, most Governments have stopped caring about their citizens. Even the poorest governments have managed to attain riches beyond belief and basically it boils down to money. Who can make the most money....Very sad, but it seems to be the pervasive reality.

[@natividadfamiliapereyra3742]

Thanks for this....Such an eye opener!😢

[@Xavier-Denis]

Je te félicite Paul pour avoir dénoncé ce non sens. Ce n'est pas en faisant des dons qu'on aide comme on a vu qui finissent par se rendre à des revendeurs mais c'est plus en montrant à un peuple à créer et à construire et faire du commerce avec des pays voisins pour qu'il soit indépendant. J'ai une cousine qui a été missionnaire en Afrique et qui comme Paul est revenue désillusionnée.

[@Rescel1]

Thank you for the documentary it’s really interesting

[@Marenqo]

Great documentary, very sensitive bloke as well

[@henrylim4662]

Thank you for this. I’m sorry that you went through that and at the same time, I’m glad that the experience didn’t alter your outlook on life.

[@ostricalungimirante]

Very interesting piece of journalism, thanks.

[@druggy1868]

African here, In my city there's a slum called Kibera supposedly the biggest slum in Africa. We have dozens of NGOs there but minimal change. Most people believe they are just money laundering organizations. Truth is Africa is in need of investment not aid, there are huge opportunities that if explored can rake in lots of profit and employ lots of people something that will bring real change.

[@lorenkelley1568]

That is interesting. I think that aid should almost always be just for emergencies. Giving people opportunity is much better than giving them charity. It is better to feel useful than pitied.

[@druggy1868]

Most NGOs seem interested in maintaining the status quo. Maybe because if they effect real change they will no longer be useful. The aid actually feels ingenuine since we've been asking for capital to build processing and manufacturing companies and nothing seems to come through. It's almost as if they wanna keep extracting raw materials in Africa at a cheap price, process it elsewhere then sell it back to us at exorbitant prices.

[@farhanatoerien3437]

Thank you for this great documentary

[@patriciabeller64]

Wonderful story! Sharing it with the wider world is the reason you were there. Don't doubt it--the experience molded who you are and what you now have to offer. Madeleine and her family were in your sphere for a purpose. Thank God and well told!

[@Costachel77]

Hi @patriciabeller64 it's a pleasure to meet you. How are you doing?

[@blue---monday]

Oh wow. This is amazing

[@cooperveit3289]

Glad Atul Gawande and the US have begun an allotment to GiveDirectly, rather than these kinds of programs. Hopefully that trend will continue regardless of administration

[@PHlophe]

Coop, the question is what it is that the US is getting for free in return.

[@Hudute]

mate, that same NGO suffers from the same problem of corruption and theft, like documented in the DRC

[@rukundohandmade1095]

Tut mir echt leid, dass du da so eine schlechte Erfahrung gemacht hast. Als junger Mensch für so ein Projekt ins Ausland zu gehen, ist meiner Meinung nach vor allem für die eigene Entwicklung gold wert. Natürlich bewirken die ganzen Abiturienten nichts in den paar Monaten. Meine Zeit in Afrika war super spannend und ich bin mit einem erweiterten Horizont und einer anderen Sicht auf die Welt und unsere Gesellschaft in Deutschland zurück gekommen.

[@jugo1944]

This doesn't seem like a bad experience to me. A disillusioning one but the upside to disillusionment is losing your delusions

[@rukundohandmade1095]

@@jugo1944 yes you are right. He could have probably also improve his situation by making more friends in senegal and having a better time instead of sitting at home alone.

[@param888]

@rukundohandmade1095 i think he put efforts sometimes its hard to make friends abroad especially in digital era.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

@@rukundohandmade1095 We clearly see him making friends with locals. He was just devastated because he thought he would be doing something usefull and good to help the people out. Instead he found that the NGO he worked for was highly corrupt.

[@deepdockproletarianarchive4539]

one of the most beautiful documentaries I have ever seen

[@TJ-hs1qm]

He learned to make tea !

[@derAlex_777]

Danke fürs Teilen deiner Geschichte, Paul!

[@ronaldkable]

Thanks for a very touching, openhearted memoir

[@ethanatlarge]

This was such an excellent perspective - thank you for sharing. I strongly believe we need to improve the way NGO's function and re-examine the relationships between Europe and parts of the world that are currently targetted for such "aid". As climate change progresses and the geo-political landscape continues to evolve, it's important that we get this right.

[@196cupcake]

One exception, where going can be more helpful than just sending money, is teaching a second language. Practicing speaking and listening with a person who is fluent as their first language can be very helpful, and doesn't have very good substitutes. Grammar and vocabulary can be learned from a book. You can practice some listening from recordings. There is just nothing that can replace talking to someone who speaks the language fluently.

[@l88ch3r]

I think its quite telling when you look at the viewership numbers for videos like this. 4.4M subscribers, but only 24k views. People don't seem to want to know about the suffering.

[@stephenlight647]

On the other hand, it is a repetitive and boring topic for anyone who has spent any time at all looking into these NGO activities. I’m not saying that this particular video was boring. I think they did a good job of it and the person in it did his best. What I am saying is that many will not want to view what they already know is a monumentally depressing topic. You can alleviate suffering where you are. Trying to do so in another culture on a wide basis is….not usually successful.

[@Squee7e]

Look, this is KZbin. Videos like this need to age like a fine wine. Maybe over the years it'll have some 2m+ views

[@rinmartell2678]

People do know about this though. I think people just don’t care

[@Gentleman...Driver]

The algorithm seems to give the documentary some love right now.

[@Mickyy0623]

thanks for sharing.

[@Suedwestcracks]

I was applying for a volunteer service and one of the first things at the overseas weekend that brought other members of the group to tears was the fact that nobody of us goes there to help. A girl was so convinced she would be helping the people for a year needed to be seperated and calmly talked to. My approach was having a year abroad with fun, learning other cultures and get to know new people. I was the only one who did not care if he goes or not. That is why I am not surprised by this at all.

[@it_s_me_jojo]

Same for me, thats also what they told us the whole time. These countries and communities shouldnt be dependent on us but rather we are just there to assist (if that is even needed)

[@mothepractitioner]

May the universe conspire in your favour my red ear brother... ❤

[@TroubledTrooper]

This stuff goes deeper than you think. It's a whole racket.

[@baldinggrey5368]

I must be about the same age cause I did my civil service from 2008-2009. Originally. I tried to go abroad like you, saw the same lists and everything. Being young and inexperienced and possibly just afraid, I did not manage to get the service abroad track going and ended up doing the civil service close to my hometown in Germany instead. During the time, it seemed like the lesser option to me and I was slightly disappointed, but looking at what the reality on the ground looks like I may have done more good at home. Although, in recent years I have seen some articles criticizing these Caritas workshops as well, so in the end, who knows. In any case, I ended up going abroad afterwards and I can relate to this situation of being in kind of lost in very different culture.

[@skumsters2323]

Great documantary, thank you.

[@shareika]

Das macht einfach nur wütend.

[@PHlophe]

Fürchterlich oder !

[@KlausKlauskinski]

And the doctor in the beginning was right with his question. What do you want in Africa?

[@sixtyfive0]

What people don't get is Africa needs to become rich, we need industries, we need cheap fuel, we need life changing infrastructures, we need industrial skills. That's what is needed. Cash for aid work is cool, but not sustainable.

[@minusmett7882]

Genial! Ich brauche keine Untertitel. 5 Jahre Französisch lernen zahlt sich aus.

[@chantelb2527]

i woukd like to know what happened after you came back. did you tell the government or local minister what you experienced? Did the german government do anything about it?

[@schattenwind5351]

Indeed, that would be very good to know. Some of this really borders criminal law, even though the facts are now covered by prescription.

[@Gentleman...Driver]

I didnt hear from the documentary in Germany. The algorithm brought me here. There was no scandal or anything. To this day the "Freundschaftsverein mit Thies e.V." (Friendship association with Thies) is operating in Senegal. They are also donating to Ukraine. If you google the NGO there are no bad news in German media. They are just saying that they are donating. While I have a feeling this documentary can also be applied to other NGOs, we dont have other insights like this. So we should be careful to judge. Note: If there would have been a scandal, people would have donated less in general (also to other NGOs). So maybe he didnt want them to be hurt. If there is one corrupt NGO it must not mean that everyone is corrupt, right?

[@NotUnymous]

That f*ed up. To be fair tho, there were lots of very positive experiences too. And beside the "helping others" it was a very reaching experience for oneself. It makes your realize just how rich we are and to be Humble, it open ones eyes for the poverty and what it realy means. And It helped the cultural exchange, to understand each other better. It's a experience like non other and I realy wish we still would have that "forced service" :-) There are first hints that it will be coming back. My fingers are crossed

[@obscuremusictabs5927]

You do what you can.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

We lived in Shanghai for 4 years and our kids went to International Schools that always have a big "service" component (since they can't really stake the school on the religious aspects of Christianity), so every year our children would go to rural areas of China--every time, they were helping to build a school. But to my knowledge, the schools would then go on to receive no additional funding or supplies, so they just get built and then rot until another Western group comes along to 'build another school.'

[@PHlophe]

Ingrid , i would not call 4 floor and 16 walls plus tap water a "school" . we see plenty of those pop up everywhere in remote and poorer parts of the world. those are just there to you guys feel good about yourself. you document it . upoad on youtube , monetize then add on your CV that you went to help people and perhaps you get a profile in ELLE magazines . cherry on top

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Pretty much.@@PHlophe

[@thekonkoe]

It’s worth keeping in mind that here in China there is a much larger and more developed program involving university students going to less developed areas for this type of work. On the better end this can also involve training of teachers, and engagement on a level to form connections for later assignment of teachers. That comes with its own social complications but is a large part of trying to have more equal education across the country. More different, but also a critical aspect of the larger program, these outsiders are also often tasked with assessing and collecting feedback in communities. Because they are given power to make reports to outside authorities there is some ground for corruption, but more typically they serve as a check on the worst excesses of local corruption. These do have all the problems that other responders pointed out, but in the Chinese context they exist along side a similar system which seems at least mildly productive through integration with educational and administrative programs

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Well-said; thank you for hitting points i missed... there are leadership/administrative skills and other factors at play as well in that business.@@thekonkoe

[@MrSaemichlaus]

Money that goes unmanaged, very swiftly seeps into the ground, never to be seen again. That's true for any private person's finance, but also for these NGO's that claim to make a difference in poorer countries. If you want to make a true difference, it has to be through education, not by rearranging rocks.

[@freedomduck9]

I appreciate the interesting and complex problems this documentary is dealing with. Its impossible to summarize, you really just have to watch it and try to set aside preconceived notions. I want to believe that aid helps but I hear the people in the documentary talking about how it can create dependence or how aid is simply funneled into corruption. I think one oversimplified takeaway that I got out of this is that citizens of wealthy countries need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that poor countries want or can use our trash. Nobody wants your t shirt with a hole in it, your busted suitcase, your tired coffee machine. We have to be more open to the idea that other people, poor people, also want access to clean, useful, and beautiful things and that that isn't an absurd or greedy ask. Also I was struck by thoughts about the infrastructure of small towns in Senegal and whether people are able to dispose of trash in the ways they might want to, whether there is reliable trash pickup, reliable roads, reliable electricity. I have no idea, just rambling at this point.

[@OzAbi]

I’d say a better approach would be to build better educational systems and disincentivize corruption so that the people will keep the systems stable and become able to produce for themselves to their liking, and gradually lower the aid in the meantime. It really boils down to that saying „give a man a fish you’ll feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you’ll feed him for a lifetime.“

[@carlosdumbratzen6332]

The other part of this story I had to witness during my volunteer work in Germany (I didnt leave the country). While my workplace was run quite reasonable and I had stuff to do, some of mates had some pretty exploitative work to do. 5 times during my volunteer time we had a seminar. One of my fellow volunteers, she came from Ghana, told us how she had to work alone in a home for elders, because of understaffing issues, others had to find another job and were basically working 60 hours a week to pay rents. The good part about this however is that there were people in our organisation who would try to change these things when we complained about it. But it is weird that this stuff even happens when people com from Africa, Asia or America to Europe and want to work and help here...

[@TomRauhe]

We like cheap coffee and chocolate (and natural resources), so we take them and give back "humanitarian aid" to keep the system running. In addition, some of the help we send, like the high quality scissors, are of course sold by whoever gets their hand on them first. Any money is kept and will never see its purpose.

[@GloryDaze73]

As a South African, I must reflect on this....I wish I could solve this issue of corruption. Systemic, generational hopelessness is a pervasive and infectious disease. We have been poor for so long that most of us cannot think beyond tomorrow. The moment we have money in our pockets, we need to spend it to fill the hole in our soul. We have seen too much pain and not experienced much hope.

[@iamwhoknocks]

Reality, as someone who works in this field . There's more to foreign aid and philanthropy that will never meet the eye

[@kalebrosenberg8294]

I know people that went to jail because they refused their mandatory service back in the day. Seeing this, you really cant blame them.

[@meowsaidthecat5338]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, and if I can say one thing Paul, you have a beautiful, genuine smile that I think helped in creating those connections you did make in Senegal. Let's listen to what Madeleine says. I think stop simply sending humanitarian aid unless it is things like water during drought. It is hard to support local initiatives in countries where cronyism and corruption still resides - but if you can support African initiatives started from abroad, like how my friend from Kenya wanted to convert water hyacinth to local fuel sources (prior to the pandemic), perhaps that really might make a difference. And although some resources are scarce in Africa, it should not be the place where we "dump" our old technology. One exception though: I have one of the old sewing machines that I saw in the video. These things will last a lifetime and more if you care for it (oiling etc).Modern machines even have plastic wheels on the inside and will start to break down in a year, even from brands like Pfaff. I also drive an older car, an old Toyota where I know many were exported to Africa. But generally, they don't need your windows 95 PC in Africa. It is a bit of a condescending way, "ah, at least I didn't throw it out" - instead of treating everyone equally.

[@Balearique]

Didn't know dogs can be racist. Learned something new.

[@kathimarg8607]

That baffled me too, but i had a german Boxer dog and his instinct was to bark and growl at black people and people walking with a disability. I trained him otherwise. Now i have a little rescue and he has it in him to hunt rabbits and foxes. I think these dogs lineages is also linked to their jobs history and colonialism after all.

[@flightisallright]

My dog was always more scared of dark dogs (and of people wearing hats). You have to remember that dark colors reflect less light.

[@thersten]

A friend of mine knew an obese guy who trained his dog to be racist. He would have pictures of black people and would treat him when he attacked them. One day he called a locksmith and he happened to be black. The dog went crazy and had to be locked in the bathroom.

[@user-dl2iy5yv2k]

@@thersten my cousin’s neighbor, had a friend that did the same thing. That is irrefutable proof.

[@thersten]

@@user-dl2iy5yv2k maybe it was the same racist person? My person's name was Donald J. Trump. What was your person's name?

[@middlefinger8858]

It's very hard to change culture, easy to live the same way and easy to believe that everything is due to colonialism!

[@Suburp212]

Stay out of those overseas regions. Corruption galore.

[@joyesjames8773]

Ok. So internationals and volunteers are more like to on a tour than actually helping people😅

[@radixalpinguin]

How can 18 or 19 year old Europeans without experience in a trade help? Its ludicrous.

[@tommym321]

@@radixalpinguinludicrous indeed

[@flicksbyhans]

A lot of money is spent on comms to make the programs minimum effort look like the best thing since slices bread

[@klo786]

Average Gutmensch experience

[@bolormaaluvsandorj1201]

A winner of Tampere Film Festival in 2023. I am privileged to see Paul to receive his award. A wonderful movie and made me think of still very badly designed programs by international NGOs. Much money wasted on useless training and posters. My first words when we meet such organizations don’t give me your printouts. If you support well functioning local NGOs you will get more return on “donated” fundings. Most of the funding goes to support staff at home country. I have been asked for the interviews when “international experts” come and rip off your brains or use your concept to get the funding and then the spare “scraps” to local NGOs. Still I want to blame us, the developing world” that needs to develop skills and expertise to develop our economy and resolve our social issues

[@callibor3119]

The problem has always been that everywhere else play the predator, even the grazers are predators in the same meaning in this instance, instead of the shepherd. Someone to watch over the lands not just within their own nation and give word to the people about the qualities within it, but other lands they are foreign to could peacefully be how they would live their own through negotiations. I mean if slavery was meant to be negotiated in the words of Donald Trump, why not have any negotiations to live about with other people with the same values of life like many others, learn different traditions, cultures and languages so that any form of conflict can be resolved simply by negotiations and not bloodshed. Not that it wasn’t a solution at all before, right? Other than killing to own land and resources?

[@shelbynamels973]

17:25 interesting question. why cut the video at this point?? I would have been curious to hear his response. and hers.

[@JcOnAFieldtrip]

Absolutely

[@Eragon2679]

Well, a few seconds earlier, he did say he had a tourist visa. But generally speaking the german passport is one of the strongest in the world, meaning that only a few countries require an owner of a german passport to apply for a visa, if i am not mistaken...

[@tombombadil1868]

I went abroad to a school in South Africa back then. There were no instructions by the organization, so one of the teachers tried to include my in her work. I had no qualifications and when the teacher was not there, I was really overwhelmed. I am not sure if the children profited from my presence in any meaningful way. Somewhere around half a year in, another staff member asked if there was a war in Germany that I had fled or why had I come there?

[@MikeD-hn9hf]

This has helped me to understand how we, the Australian people, are satisfied by throwing money at the First Nations problem only for it to never be resolved. It absolves us of accountability. This is why we as a people voted 'no' to recognising them in our constitution - it would mean they would become visible.

[@jaimerodriguez1550]

Going to a less developed country, your perspective on everything starts to blur. This reality we live in the United States, our normal, starts to fade and a new normal starts to establish itself. Thise foundational truths and realities either warp and wother or solidify. You realize how much your getting taken advantage of in the United States but at the same time you realize how many creatur comforts you miss. The realization of how real poverty is mind blowing. Suffering on a level you never witnessed before.

[@heartsofiron4ever]

This guy is from Germany.

[@achmedaan]

@@heartsofiron4ever Americans never fail to assume everything is about themselves.

[@conniekabasharira7084]

You love making everything about yourself but as an American, just move around your country, you have poor people who may need your help. There's plenty of videos showing poor people in your country who need help as well, reality might hit you with a road trip before you think of traveling to another continent by air to face it

[@anthonydawson9556]

Did you watch the video? A part of the point the video is trying to make is that NGOs and development aid from "whites" pretend to benefit those receiving assistance. But in reality it benefits the wealthy "whites", in your case giving you your nice white saviour syndrome, and letting you broaden your experiences by gawking at poor people

[@ksk31337]

Geiler Typ! (great guy)

[@viktor-dy9tr]

You don't have to go to Africa to see your money getting wasted, just visit Hungary.

[@Z8Q8]

What happens there?

[@d.b.2215]

​@@Z8Q8Orban's government

[@BwInNewJersey]

19:14 sounds familiar

[@CaptivaLP]

This one looks like it was straight taken from arte

[@win_f73]

interessant

[@prvicentebatista]

Hello everyone, have a great night! I wish the best for everyone

[@mathieucaron4957]

Those who have known several NGOs in poor countries know that most are poorly managed. Most managers have found an easy job where they can feel good with little effort. It's terribly shameful. Don't be fooled by international awards, I have known "heroes" who don't even deserve to be respected. The best NGO I have known is Friends International in Asia. They deserve their excellent reputation.

[@arontesfay2520]

As somebody who grew up in Africa and was actually a first hand beneficiary of a lot of foreign aid, I can attest to all the corruption. I've heard worse than the things in this video. However, I can't understand the idea that aid should be stopped because of corruption. It's clearly a big problem and a lot of poor people die because they don't get access to the aid. But how does stopping the aid improve the situation? It'll only make it worse.

[@renzo6490]

I feel depressed and powerless. Human greed and poverty of values is so rampant and intractable. What is this world all about?

[@heartsofiron4ever]

That's why I became a Gebirgsjäger.

[@Daniel-yl8y]

Because you knew.... 😂 Sure...

[@heartsofiron4ever]

@@Daniel-yl8y My older brother told me, I was always a hiker

[@roquemocan]

I think the problem laid more in the NGOs organization. I know many NGOs doing good work. Maybe even you could organize something that is more helpful and in tune with the needs. For example, you saw what was needed in the Hospital, and you could help the german donors to fine tune their donations.

[@Annika9517]

But the hospital received what was needed (scissors), that's why Paul went to the hospital in the first place. and the hospital dorector sold it to a private clinic and kept the wheelchair for his mother instead of using it for his patients

[@Sadowsky46]

They should have named the organization 😮

[@imtheeastgermanguy5431]

I was in Thailand for two years in a wheelchair distribution project. It was a good time but like always there problems and things can be different because it's a other culture. Overall it wasn't a wasted time but to be honest i or we volunteers in the project could had done more or at least more efficient. Obviously we need to follow the rules but in this video here it was just wasted time and this doesn't help anyone. Yes it's a poor country in some areas but if donations don't get out to the people who needs them it's pointless. As the woman in the end had said "I don't like development aid!" and I agree with her in some cases. If they don't solve the roots of the problems it doesn't work if we give them something what we don't need anymore. They could produce their own products and give locals jobs yes and they can be paid by foreign countries to get the money cycle started. In food aid it's often the same. They bring a bag of rice and than left. But it would be better to renew the soil in order to get their own yields and be independent from food aid.

[@helgefan8994]

Dang, I grew up in Solingen.

[@LimoneneDaddy]

Ah man the shot of him at 3:00 is soooo powerful.. i can relate to that look hes wearing on his face

[@bagalao77]

Could be 10m

[@MK-jn9uu]

1 year?

[@GeilerRitter]

Stop the aid, offer FAIR trading deals to Africa and allow protectionism for African economies. If you mean well with Africa, shut down the IWF.

[@gogo-uf8ow]

stimmt nachdenklich...

[@Ngongocqui92]

🎉

[@hemlockoutdoors]

"The Horror... The Horror". It's amazing how Heart of Darkness still holds true to this day.

[@AnkitSingh-dv9pd]

Can somebody share this in english? I cant play it in the background otherwise

[@AB-rl7ev]

what happened with the chickens

[@Vespertilio-Homo]

you know what happened. but if you don't want to know, then yes, the groundskeeper fed them every day, tucked them in at night and they lived happily ever after as a big family.

[@Foto22417]

😄@@Vespertilio-Homo

[@AB-rl7ev]

yesss! exactly@@Vespertilio-Homo

[@beach2787]

they are the new watchdogs of the house... more so as watchchickens

[@ekesandras1481]

Alle diese Länder, auch der Senegal, haben nach der Unabhängigkeit eine Phase des Sozialismus durchgemacht. Manche Länder waren ganz auf der Linie der Sowjetunion, manche nur halb, aber marxistische Gesellschaftsexperimente haben alle gemacht. Und meistens hat das sehr negative wirtschaftliche Konsequenzen gehabt, die die Entwicklung dieser Region zwei, drei Jahrzehnte zurückgeworfen hat.

[@cristianefraga7940]

luiz inacio l.lu.l.l.a. da silva says that american judges didn't want Brazil to have Petrobras in 1956!!!

[@raylopez99]

Yawn. How is this different from the famous book (I've since forgotten in title) about an American from Boston I believe it was who worked in Togo in the late 1960s and early 1970s and wrote an autobiography? I don't recall any allegations of racism but the gist was his efforts in Africa were futile and ultimately he had a mild nervous breakdown and had to leave. Also read "The Ugly American" about a fictional story of SE Asian aid worker help. I've traveled to several dozen countries and lived in a half dozen but not in Africa, however, talking to an African I understand that foreign aid is looked upon by the locals as a welcome free lunch, with no long term benefits. The same has happened in SE Asia where I sometimes live (I'm in DC now, I'm a Caucasian). In fact, I'm in the 1% but some people in my extended family have received foreign aid after certain natural disasters (as was our legal right) and while appreciative, I sometimes feel that this sort of help is nothing but a way for western people to feel less guilty for having a restrictive immigration policy in their country. Prove me wrong, reader. Give a man a fish...teach a man to fish... bye-bye.