A great TED talk by Chimamanda Adiche (Nigerian Novelist) that addresses the theme of cultural competence. Adiche talks about how forming our perceptions on one dominant story or world view can lead to misunderstandings and negative sterotypes. I think we’ve all fallen into the trap of “the single story” at some point or another (she admits to having done it herself).
I wonder if most people think of ISL (international service learning) as a single story too- either as being helpful to the receiving population and a great opportunity, or (as we sometimes talk about in our dialogue series) unsustainable, patriarchal, and with great knowledge gaps.
Maybe we need to stop thinking of ISL as one story, and think of it as a combination of different aspects. Can ISL be both helpful and ethical?
Anyways, the video…
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg[/youtube]
One reply on “Great TED video…”
There is a real danger in assuming that one single story is the story of everyone. It takes away the diversity in the society and does nothing but to perpetuate stereotypes. It’s important to always take a step back and remember that it’s the story of one person and not an entire community. This becomes particularly important when volunteering abroad. Volunteers need to understand that their experiences are subjective and that others may have completely different experiences. In the context of ISL, well, if we don’t realize that the society is diverse and that what may work for a rural community may not work for another rural community or an urban community then how can we do any good?