Attention Indian Volunteers in Africa!

[Bibin Knivelil Joy]

Hello Friends!
One of my friends who has just returned from East Africa told me that the Indians are not welcomed in Africa even in NGO sector. They prefer Europeans rather than us due to their professionalism. Indians are considered to be money oriented not service oriented. He advised me if I choose to go to Africa I would have to select the country where the Indian influence is less. How the Indian volunteers in Africa would like to comment on this statement?

[Rashmi Madavi]

Running away from a problem is not a solution I believe, but rather face it with positive sprit! I take an example of Mumbai city” who been attack several time but never gave up still standing as brave warrior, that’s a sprit of Indian I believe. I just take an example of Bihar and Maharastra conflict, I take example of south Indian conflict for national language I can give many example of my own country where on the name of religion, language and state each state has faced conflicts. Thus conflicts are every where in different form.

[Rashmi Madavi]

I wonder why we Indian volunteer have to give an attention when thinking of vol. to Africa. When white European gives funds to the NGO in India, I find the same behavior and response from My own Indian brother/sister. I have personally experience the lower treatment in India that I have received from Indian in front of white! only because Europeans are seen as rich, In india also NGOs do look for Eroupean funder!

Every individual experience differ its place to place, country to country, situation to the situation. Its not necessary that because one has been treated bad in one area that other one should get the same treatment. In every situation Person and his personality does matter I believe. I personally experience in Namibia where African love Indian but dislike whites, somewhere they did not like business class Indian as they where controlling there market ,there livelihood but they love me and took care of me like anything.

Therefore I should say running away from the place where more Indian are base in Africa is not a solution but this is an opportunity to prove an example of good. Through volunteering in such place you can make a difference. I believe No matter what part of Africa you go.

[Rashmi Madavi]

where I have work, there they prefer Indian than Europenan, the area where I was working they consider Indian are humbal and hard working and European volnteer are like a tourist.

[Bibin Knivelil Joy]

Thank u Rashmi, Yes I too believe that things are more or less same in every where. I had been working in Nagaland for many years, It is the place where we can find most backwards tribes India, their I had to face the challenges from the terrorists groups even threat to my life, but the questions we should ask ourselves that ‘are Indian social workers money oriented rather than service oriented’?

[Capt Uday Mukherji]

1. This being money oriented is a personal issue, also, while most Europeans may be as money oriented, they are are more savvy in getting their way
2. Many Indians lack the social skills to effectively interact in alien cultures with openness and confidence, their reservations about food(non-veg) and drinks( sharing a beer or a whiskey) makes it worse. Most Indians who do have such skills are having a great time in reputed organizations throughout the world and feel no need to rough it out as volunteers.
3. We ourselves are racist in many ways and avoid reaching out to people different from us. This is as true of people within India.

[Bibin Knivelil Joy]

Thank you Captain, I feel it is a realistic evaluation on ourselves, but let me tell you something many of the youngsters enter into profession of social work with compassion to wards the needy and they do feel good by doing something for the socially down trodden people .But If they happened to be working in NGO sector they see the money poured into different projects and started thinking slowly that how can they repatriate some out it.(of course it can also be personal). So they change their mind from service oriented to money oriented and work to find a way to do it.

[Nirakar Panda]

Dear Bibin,

I totally beleive that Indians (NOT ALL) are more or less money worriented. But I beleive that too all people are money minded. Let me tell you that in Africa, we considered as very good (in Mozambique) as because we show then how to do business. And also I went through ur comments by others are really motivated ones. I like the one by Shing who is true...if you drink, socialize with others then no problem in any where in this small world..

Try to be yourself.......as Bibin....All the best...We Indians are Indians....the best...

[Bibin Knivelil Joy]

Thank you Nirakar,
It is really interesting to read your comment; It gives me confident to try for a volunteer placement in Africa. Yes we should break the barrier which alien us of being socialized or international.