The Gringo's Dilemma: the Struggles of Giving

I wanted to give you all a little background about our neighborhood before I write about a common occurrence that I've had during my time down here in Managua:
We live next to and within a neighborhood where a large portion of the houses are made of rusty patched together Zinc plates and the main economic activity involves an illegal market of trucks selling gravel and dirt that is stripped from the nearby mountain. A significant portion of the community is struggling to find employment and to pay the bills, find money for food, etc. While I write this I know that it paints a desolate picture. I intend only to show the reality of the place and you should know that this can be contrasted with a significant wealthy population of the neighborhood. I would not ask to live anywhere else in Managua.

Now, to the story. A few days ago, I had a middle-aged woman from the neighborhood knock on our gate and in a sincere and solemn way beg me for financial support for her ailing mother who was gravely ill. She presented me with the doctor's note and the list of medications necessary to help her recuperate if not just survive. She then also presented me with the pharmacy's note on how much the medication would cost. 380 Cordobas or $14. I was moved and conflicted.

This type of exchange actually happens quite often and from people in equally desperate situations such as an elderly and visibly frail man with one leg. We are obvious targets for those in financial distress because as gringos we stick out and can be assumed to have lots of money. Our official policy as a non-profit organization and also a residence is that we do not give out money or gifts because gifts can be divisive, affect the integrity of our work and complicate relationships with the community. I had generally remained true to that policy up until that day. I would always say with a sad face, "we are not an aid organization and there are organizations in the neighborhood and throughout Managua that provide those roles."

Now, whether or not they are able to provide meaningful aid for a significant portion of the roughly 80% of the country living on less than $2 a day, I'm skeptical of. Actually, I'm practically positive that meaningful temporary or long term support for needy populations is not within the budget of the Nica government or even foreign funded NGO's. According to to the mandates of international financial institutions that provide the funds for the country to survive, Nicaragua must spend more money each year servicing its debt (much of which has been declared illegal) over providing any public service and then year after year must take out more loans just to pay its debt. More so, even if the country wants to focus on its public service, such as decent health care, it could face loan repeals from groups led by the United States such as the IMF, World Bank, and the IDB. If this is too wonky, then I offer a personal face to the significance of these policies mean from an article about the recent 6-month country-wide public doctor strike demanding a living wage:

"My child died because the striking doctors would not help him. He died this morning." Similarly, Ivania Barahona says that doctors at the public hospital Roberto Calderón refused to treat her brother, Angel Andrés Lara Barahona, for cirrhosis on two different occasions, resulting in his eventual death. The medical strike also poses a great danger to AIDS patients, who have had trouble accessing the antiretroviral drugs that MINSA dispenses to them from hospital pharmacies. Doctors have also refused to attend cancer patients."
Full article: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/267/62/

While the neighborhood woman was talking to me I couldn't help but think of the struggles of the common Nicaraguan. She was desperate and I knew it.

So, as I said before, when the woman approached me for a "loan" I was moved and conflicted.
 • I saw her need but also knew that we couldn't give to everyone who came asking. Why did this woman merit support more than anyone else besides the fact that she was in front of me right then?
 • We already had another $15 dollar "loan" out to some Nica friends that has not been paid back yet more than 2 months after it was due.
 • I thought $15 dollars is a lot for people like us living off of ~ $300 a month, but Sarah and I always have the means to find livable salaries if we come into true struggle.
 • Our organization is based on equal and honest exchange and sustainable economies. This was not going to be an equal exchange nor was it creating a sustainable means of support and self-determination.
 • I am convinced that solving poverty is not about the wealthy being benevolent and "lending their wealth and expertise" to those "less fortunate". I believe that acting in that manner can often do more harm then good.

So with these issues what did I do when the women asked me for a loan?
I gave her 200 cordobas and I felt good about it. My roomate Patty gave her 100 cordobas. She said she'd come by the next day to get rid of the debt. I haven't seen her since. Even though she promised to pay us back I don't think I can go ask her for the money. What do you say to someone who is that desperate for funds?
"I want my money that I don't need back."
I don't think I'm capable of that.

I'll let you know what I do the next time this comes up.

-Rick

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