“If you’re willing to help without listening to the story, then I have a problem.” – Caroline Berinyuy
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Caroline Berinyuy, program director with the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) in Cameroon and leader of the next Global Solidarity Retreat.
Solidarity retreats emerged, in part, as a way to respond to challenges to and critiques of what has been called ‘voluntourism’, as described in other posts and in resources & readings. The messaging about much of the global South, particularly about sub-Saharan Africa, is that there are many poor / troubled people and that it is the role of those from the global North to travel and ‘help’ them.
Caroline’s take on this, as I heard it, is that the desire to ‘help’ is natural and valuable. The thing is, there’s a desire to jump in and help rather than first listen. It’s good to work with somebody who is willing to help – it’s a positive word if used rightly on the ground.
But, she says, “people are not listening to the story – they are quick to provide fixes without listening to the story. It’s important to see why doing a project in Cameroon might be different from one in Zambia… don’t overlook listening to jump to solutions first.”
Taking the time needed to deeply listen can be challenging, with short trips and tight schedules. She is visiting to present at the CIES (Comparative and International Education Society) 2016 conference. As a part of that conference she will give a short presentation to fellow academics and those within her field. The opportunity to participate in a Global Solidarity retreat, having several full days with the same small group of people, is a valuable addition to her travel itinerary – and a significant opportunity for Canadian residents.
Caroline is program director for the Young Women’s Leadership Program, which focuses on an after-school mentoring program for girls. The program aims to promote the education of girls both through academic support and scholarships. Workshops are led by professionals and by high school students, ‘leaders in training’. Her work engages mothers as well as community elders, and is a safe and welcoming space for students of all ethnic backgrounds and abilities. You can learn more about the YWLP in this article or in the following:
Global Solidarity Retreat YWLP Background
Stay tuned for further information about the Global Solidarity Retreat with Caroline Berinyuy: March 11th – 13th, 2016!
