The changing role of public relations in development communication
This meeting was not at all what I expected it to be on the basis of the title. I mean, would you expect a presentation on 'sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas: the challenge is to make public transport, car driving, cycling and walking operate together in a rational and sustainable way.' http://www.move-forum.net/
Well, I didn't.
The second one was on development and microfinance we were told by Mr. John Halisack (phonetically) and we were shown a video on Shakti Entrepreneurs. It shows an Indian woman with a soft tone voice over telling us: I was born in a poor community, but our family had even less. My father had managed to find me a husband so I got married at the age of 17. I had 2 children and then my husband left me - I don't know why. Luckily my mother allowed me to work on her small patch of land and she now and then gave us a few rupi. But a few rupi is not the same as having food on the table. One day a woman came to our village for a meeting which I joined. She was explaining to us women how we should save 1 rupi a day, and if we need to borrow money then borrow it within your group not through a financer. Then a man came to our village. He showed a box and taught us how we could sell this and from everything sold we could keep a part ourselves. (now you are wondering what was in that box - as was I)
Every morning very early I go to other villages to sell my items. I explain to the women what germs are and that you have to wash your hands with this soap to clean them. I didn't even know what germs were till this man explained it to me. ....... "
Okay, and now we finally see what she is selling to these poor communities: Livebuoy soap, Vim, toothpaste - yes, this is Unilever in action! They proudly tell us that they now have 26.000 Shakti entrepreneurs selling their products and thereby improving their livelihoods!
But we should understand that we need to "Unite the power of market with the need of the underdeveloped".
Hmmm, I'm so not ready for this type of CSR :o(
Well, I didn't.
The second one was on development and microfinance we were told by Mr. John Halisack (phonetically) and we were shown a video on Shakti Entrepreneurs. It shows an Indian woman with a soft tone voice over telling us: I was born in a poor community, but our family had even less. My father had managed to find me a husband so I got married at the age of 17. I had 2 children and then my husband left me - I don't know why. Luckily my mother allowed me to work on her small patch of land and she now and then gave us a few rupi. But a few rupi is not the same as having food on the table. One day a woman came to our village for a meeting which I joined. She was explaining to us women how we should save 1 rupi a day, and if we need to borrow money then borrow it within your group not through a financer. Then a man came to our village. He showed a box and taught us how we could sell this and from everything sold we could keep a part ourselves. (now you are wondering what was in that box - as was I)
Every morning very early I go to other villages to sell my items. I explain to the women what germs are and that you have to wash your hands with this soap to clean them. I didn't even know what germs were till this man explained it to me. ....... "
Okay, and now we finally see what she is selling to these poor communities: Livebuoy soap, Vim, toothpaste - yes, this is Unilever in action! They proudly tell us that they now have 26.000 Shakti entrepreneurs selling their products and thereby improving their livelihoods!
But we should understand that we need to "Unite the power of market with the need of the underdeveloped".
Hmmm, I'm so not ready for this type of CSR :o(
posted by jveldhuizen at 6:03 PM
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