Taking international aid into your own hands with the “D.I.Y. Foreign-Aid Revolution”

Nicholas D. Kristof’s op-ed piece “D.I.Y. Foreign-Aid Revolution” offers insight into the efforts of a few “passionate individuals with great ideas” who are working to “help the world’s most vulnerable people.” This article is eye-opening: who knew that the price of sanitary napkins in Mozambique is causing absenteeism in the workplace?

Mr. Kristof tells the stories of three American women: Lisa Shannon, Elizabeth Scharpf and Maggie Doyne. Each of whom founded charitable projects that work to address social problems in the developing world.

While the six-page article’s celebration of activism is inspiring, it does, however, question the efficacy of activism w/out expertise. This is problematic and Kristof does assert that “Well-meaning individuals like Doyne help at the edges but don’t fundamentally change the nature of the challenge…” But that “the challenge is to cultivate an ideology of altruism, to spread a culture of social engagement — and then to figure out what people can do at a practical level.”

Amen!

What do you think? Are you inspired? What do you think is realistic? Do you want to make a difference?

Also, for tips on how you can get involved, check out Kristof’s blog post entitled “How To Change The World.”