Lessons from Gandhi

 

I have had the pleasure of getting to learn from a man named Ricardo Esquivia. Ricardo is often referred to by his staff and associates as the Gandhi of Colombia.

After being able to spend a month with him I definitely can confirm that lofty statement, in fact they even look alike.

In stature Ricardo is short and thin. He has big bushy eyebrows and a baldhead. He is an Afro-Colombian man with a calm presence, a gentle smile, and heavy eyes. Eyes which, hold a lot of emotion and sadness behind them.

In his life he has experienced a lot of pain and abuse. However, he has used that emotion not to become bitter and angry because of all that he has seen but instead it seems to fuel his vision and optimism for a better future. He has experienced a transformation and the negative experiences of his life have been restored so that instead of becoming jaded toward the world, he now has a source for his abundant compassion.  He is not a man of many words, however when he does speak it is very eloquent and meaningful.

I asked some of his staff what they have learned during their time working with Ricardo.  The first response is usually humility. Ricardo is a lawyer and a well-known international peace leader. In his office is a picture of him with the Dalai Lama. One staff member told me that Ricardo has many opportunities to become wealthy and famous, but he lives a simple life and doesn’t take the glory for all of the impactful work that he has done.

Ricardo started an organization called “Sembrandopaz” (Planting peace).

This organization works with seven local communities that have been displaced or extremely affected by violence.  They work to help these communities become internally sustainable again without the help of outside organizations, including their own. They work to bring peaceful reconciliation and restoration in these communities on both an ideological, social, legal, and physical level.

I have been sent to study their model of community development in order to learn and implement a similar approach. There is a lot to be learned and this is certainly a good organization to learn from. Here are some highlights to take away:

Approach

Recently there has been a lot of controversy over the Kony 2012 video. As more and more information comes out there are many critiques of Invisible Children claiming the campaign oversimplifies complex issues and does not reflect actual realities in Uganda, amongst many other things. There is no doubt it does a good job of promoting awareness and giving recipients a tangible way to respond. However at the end of the day we ask who is this really for?  I am not writing to bash this organization, I do not know all the details and I am sure there are valid arguments from both sides. I simply use this as an example to get us thinking about approach. 

I can tell you one thing for certain this is certainly no new phenomenon. It is a common occurrence that the good intentions of an organization or individual in the end only seem to be serving their own agenda.

Approach is important to think about in order to avoid resulting in good works that are only self-serving. Reason/Motivation are also important questions, but very in depth and probably best saved for another post.

Here is some insight from Ricardo that will help us think about approach.  When talking about the process of community development he uses the metaphor of building a fire.

            He explains; if you want to heat something quickly you could light a gas stove and in a short time achieve the end goal of heating your food, it would be impressive, quick and it would meet an immediate need. However, once the gas is turned off or runs out, the fire will cease to exist. The gas fire is what happens when an NGO comes in and tries to run community programs. They will look good and meet needs but it will require constant outside resources in order to function. In order for something to be sustainable it has to provide its own fuel. Ricardo says at “Sembrandopaz” they try to start a fire by hand. They gather surrounding tinder and kindle then go through the long tedious process of rubbing sticks together to make a flame. It is a slow and difficult process however they have created something that can continue to be fed and will have inspiration to keep it going because it was created from within. Those involved know how difficult it was to get to that point and will take pride in maintaining what they have created.  This is the work of Sembrandopaz to assist a community to build their own fire.

Many Organizations have great ideals and talk all day about empowering people, but often their actions seem more like they are trying to give more power to themselves. I had an amazing opportunity to see how Sembrandopaz really lives out their ideals.

Mambujan is a community that has been displaced due to paramilitary control. This is a community in which Sembrandopaz has been the main support since the people were squatting on private land without any representation. This community is the first to be recognized under a new law, which promises reparations to communities displaced by violence.  Mambujan has received national recognition due to the historical significance that this new law promises. The community hosted a huge event in which the President of Colombian was scheduled to attend, in order to acknowledge the community. The event was a big deal with many organizations, a lot of media and many important Government officials (the president did not make it). With all of this hype, many tried to jump aboard the bandwagon. For example one organization donated posters and t-shirts for the event, of course they were sure to post their logo all over them and write how the community has been helped with their support. They might as well have been a corporate sponsor. However Sembrandopaz the only organization that has been involved in the process since the beginning, which initiated and equipped the community to start the legal process, did not jump in to receive their credit. No instead they did exactly what they set out to do, they let the community stand tall and represent themselves. They stood in the background as the faithful supporter and encourager not seeking the spotlight for their own gain. Instead they looked on, proud of a once striated and hostile community, which is now working together, united for their own cause using their own abilities.  This is real community development.

I can see how Ricardo’s personal character translates into the action of his organization. He truly is a genuine demonstration of meekness. Do not misunderstand me here because, many people equate the word meek to weak. However, that assumption could not be more false. Weak means a lack of power, strength and force. Being meek is a control and restraint of much power. Think of a wild mustang, uncontrolled and wild it does whatever it wants using its energy in sporadic sprints and fits. However once it is tamed it harnesses and controls that power. That strength and power is still there and can be flexed if needed but it is not done simply to show off, it can now use that power for purpose and intention.

A great leader does not use his knowledge and resources to boast to others what they have made for themselves, instead, they use that potential to help others do the same. My best professors were not necessarily the ones who were the most informed and could recite to me all that I needed to learn. No, my best professors were the ones who showed me how to think for myself.

I think if all of us took a lesson from Ricardo’s approach and humble ourselves to help others see their potential, we would see radical change. This is something we are all capable of...

 Go be a positive change!

-Chad