THE INDUSTRY OF AID | Introduction

Africa is the second largest continent, bursting with more natural resources than any other, yet still behind much of the rest of the world in terms of economic development, peace and health.

Why? There is no simple answer, but there are some consistently predominant contributors.

Pre-colonization Africa was peaceful and self-reliant. Colonials moved in and did their usual raping and pillaging of the people and land, and continue to today. They created systems for oppression, demoralization and divisionism, exemplified in catastrophes like the Rwandan Genocide.

Then came the missionaries and humanitarians, determined to save the helpless Africans and make them “civilized”. Decades later, much of this process has evolved into yet another oppressive and controlling system, quite contrary to the original mission, yet certainly endemic of their behavior.

There is a pervasive belief that Africa is inferior, unable to develop and prosper on her own. She is overflowing with Aid Agencies/NGOs that rely on her ongoing struggle. Her maladies provide them with a job and income. These agencies depend on Africa’s plight. This is a broken system.

The colonialists see Africa as a playground of free resources and endless slave labor. Aid Agencies treat her as a charity case, creating systems that ensure their services are always needed.

Aid is an industry, generating billions of dollars per year for these institutions. Continents like Africa have become their cash cow. And Aid is now a major cog in our world economy.

So why can’t we treat Africa as our greatest asset, a destination for business? Why aren’t those billions of dollars in aid money used to create businesses instead of institutions that foster dependency on donors (for aid workers and recipients alike)?

Why is Africa recognized as the world’s largest charity case?

*It is important to note during my five years living in East Africa, I have experienced countless NGOs/Aid Agencies that are saving lives and positively impacting society. This blog post reflects the scores of others I’ve witnessed that are regularly contributing to her demise, many of them knowingly.

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