Rebecca Pratt: Love and Care in Africa Yield Results

30 October 2010

“Each and every person wants to know your love and acceptance. If they receive those things first they will be apt to hear and listen to the correction and guidance you give. Without this love, care and value first, they will not listen at all.” – Rebecca Pratt, Co-Founder of Orphan Relief and Rescue

By REBECCA PRATT

www.orphanreliefandrescue.org

Long-term changes in Africa and other developing countries will only last if we value those in front of us. With regard to the Government officials – corrupt or not – they are in authority. We have to work with them if we want to see real change.

When we value people, we can truly effect positive change in their lives by sharing and encouraging them in healthy ways to live. This can only happen through friendship.

Recently, a head government official of one African nation we are working in said to me, “Rebecca, we trust Orphan Relief and Rescue more than any other organization in our country.”

I was a bit taken aback. There are many good organizations in Africa helping kids.

“Why do you trust us so wholeheartedly?” I asked. “What makes us so different?”

The response was instructive and spoke volumes to me.

“It is because you are in our office on a regular basis, helping us help children,” the official said. “We know you do not just care for the vulnerable and orphan children in our country, but you also show how much you care for us personally.”

This official must have read my surprised expression. She explained further.

“We know you are working with us, not against us,” she said. “You have shown you are not here to simply do your own program and show us you can do it better than we can. You try to enable us to do our job well.

“When you help us write a document, you do not attach your name to it. When you help us solve issues, you do not care to ask for credit. We see you are truly in our country to help us and the children. You have no selfish motives behind what you do. You never try to hide anything you are doing. When an issue needs to be addressed, you include us in the process and allow us to make the final decisions.”

This official candidly disclosed the number of organizations coming to her country with preconceived agendas. She said these groups do not consult - or even seem to care - to involve government in their endeavors.

The message to officials like her, she said, is that these help organizations have little respect for the government that she and others work in, and the efforts they make for their own people.

“It is counterproductive not to work together,” she concluded. “No one in our office really even knows what they have done, or what messes they are leaving behind.”

Then there was a cloud on her face.

“It is just not right,” she said, clearly frustrated. “We are here after everyone is gone, and if they do not work alongside us, what they started cannot continue successfully.”

As I left, I was amazed at her bold statements. But the same sentiment was soon echoed to me by other government officials.

This encounter emphasized a key belief to me that Orphan Relief and Rescue has embraced; we make it a priority to work alongside the social welfare offices of any country we are in. I think this belief is responsible for much of the success we have enjoyed.

To affect change throughout an entire nation one must start with the government. As relationships are built and value is established with those in command, favor is given and a respect is formed allowing us to speak into things we normally would not be able to.

We have seen incredible results in African social welfare offices by working alongside officials in a spirit of mutual respect and love. This accomplishes so much for the children work to help on a daily basis. We are giving government full “ownership” over the destiny of their nation’s children, empowering them to make the difficult decisions.

One result is that we are seeing justice served for the children, and corruption significantly diminished. Officials do not want to see us disappointed.

It makes no difference who it is; each and every person wants to know love and acceptance. If they receive those things first, they will be apt to hear and listen to the correction and guidance you give. Without this love, care and value first, they will not listen at all.

People run from judgment. Yet if they feel valued and loved, out of relationship they will want to change their hurtful ways or habits.