First Impressions | Poverty Mindset

This morning he found me at the breakfast table. Evode, his name. ‘I want to come and ask how you can help me go to your country. I want a good job, good life’.

SHIT! I thought I will strangle this guy (this was the n-th time that I hear this request)

But I chose to be Christian this one time (!). I told him that what he asks is not possible. After some small talk I decide I will tell him how it is. “Yes, I am a Muzungo (white man) that comes here for tourism. For me, (hand signs are essential) I see a country of great opportunity. But I see a people who are not happy in themselves; who are not content. Comprend?” I tell him that if it’s God’s will, He will provide for Evode to travel. “But you don’t have the means. So why don’t you stop living in two places at once? Be happy in Rwanda and make a contribution.” He didn’t understand this so I explained further in broken English.

Evode Chat

“My friend, your country has been through a lot of problems. 15 years ago it was terrible. But you have so much reason to be proud of Rwanda. It was the fastest growing economy this year. Your country, okay, joined the Commonwealth 2 weeks ago. It’s the easiest country to open a business in Africa (I’m sure I read that somewhere!!). I tell you, there will be a lot of monies coming to your country soon. The Europe, America, China, Japan; they will help to develop.” Saying that made me rethink me approach and I immediately regretted saying it. I turn to a cut-out of an instant coffee label I pasted in my diary. It reads as follows:

‘Africa needs trade, not aid, to fight poverty. the African-owned company, Good African Coffee, believes ‘trade not aid’ is the only viable and sustainable strategy for African economic and social development. We have seen that aid handouts stifle creativity and lead to a crippling dependency that is neither beneficial nor sustainable.” We read this together. We agree that Africans need to be strong and not timid. We talk about why the children in Rwanda are almost defaulted to say, ‘Muzungo, gimme your money.’ and what a bad thing this is; that its truly crippling. He says in conclusion, ‘Even the older men will rather ask than work hard. This needs to change cause its not good’. I wish him well and we both agree that He will lead us and guide us.

My question is: A case like this; a crippling poverty mindset, or are the scars of civil strive so deep it’s crippling?

written by  afrikawasbeer on December 16, 2009 from Kibuye, Rwanda
from the travel blog: Traveling Africa Overland
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