Cultural Humility Applied

Where are we headed?

Learning Outcomes

• Clarify terms
• Conceptualize Kenyans' perceptions of IVs
• Apply cultural humility model

International Volunteerism

International volunteerism is defined as a period of structured voluntary service across international borders with little to no financial payment. (Margaret Sherrard Sherraden, Stringham, Sow, & McBride, 2006)

Intercultural Competence

Intercultural competence is defined as “the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations based on one’s intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (Deardorff, 2006, p. 247).

Intercultural Sensitivity

The “individual’s ability to develop emotion towards understanding and appreciating cultural differences that promotes appropriate and effective behavior in intercultural communication” (Chen & Starosta, 1998, p. 5).

Listening to our Global Partners: Kenyans' Perceptions of International Volunteers' attitudes and behaviors

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Study participants included:

• Village chief
• Hospital administrator
• International NGO executive director
• Catholic priest
• Child protection social worker

IV’s contribute expertise, consultation, funding for projects, and access to social networks

“The positive [of international volunteers] is one of the transfer of technology, transfer of expertise, transfer of experiences, and what I will call building hope. When they have come and participate in community activities it gives hope to the local community."

IV's honor and engage our cultural practices

"If there is anything they respect is the culture of the locals."

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IV’s believe Kenyans are lacking and themselves as superior

"The international community have the attitude that Kenyans are poor, the community is poor, and that is why you’ll find many of them when they come they have cameras. They see children in the slums playing naked and they take their photos. That shows that they look at us like people who are poor, who do not have, who cannot sustain themselves. They take photos of bad things so that when they go back they go and start showing people how we are poor."

"When the volunteers come to Africa, their major attitude is they have come to ‘the colony’ where these people are not informed. Normally they come thinking that there is nothing we know, I mean we are just there."

"If they come, they criticize everything. I feel like 'Argh, now this white guy has come again. Now, he’ll start saying that we are still backwards'."

"They 'know everything' and they want to control what you are doing and they don’t think you are 'good enough'."

Impact?

IV’s maintain a position of control from the beginning of the relationship or project to the end

"I've seen most of them coming in with already set targets or projects which they’re coming to do in our society. Whether this is a priority to that community is another issue."

"They already have a structure from which you as a Kenyan must conform."

IV’s give Kenyans a cursory role to play

“In many cases, us locals, we are given what to do. International volunteers come down here with an already programmed work and basically they just want us to fit in and you are given a role to play."

”IV's may want to know what Kenyans think but they finally execute what they have in mind."

"The white IV takes the leadership role and the rest of the junior staff are filled by Kenyans."

Minute Reflection

A Keyan's request

“The main thing that would bring the difference is the perception of the volunteers as he comes. If he can say that even the locals they are not empty in their mind and involve them in coming up with programs and projects that they’re participating in.”

Cultural Humility Model (Tervelon and Murray Garcia,1998)

How?

Becoming Aware

Becoming Aware

What is a significant historical event that has happened in Kenya and what role has the Global North played (if any) in this event?

A Keyan's request

"Volunteers need to come hear and understand what we are doing and let them fit into what we are doing because remember, we were there before. You are not coming to find nothing, an empty plate, but people who are living and who have structures. They have their own remote structures that support their day to day live, they know how to solve their problems, they know how to interrelate, they know how to do business, people know how to work it out.”

“If you see a person is not dead remember there’s something that is making him not dead. So, can you look at what is that that is making him to survive that you can help him to be better than having to just come and say you’re poor and you’re poor? But this person is poor but he’s not dying, so what is making him to continue?”

Becoming Aware

Identify a leader, inventor, writer, scientist, or artist who has contributed to Kenya/world in a significant way. What did they do?

What is a natural resource in which Kenya is rich and the world benefits?

If you could take a course from the people of Kenya, on what topic could they teach you?

Cultural Humility Model (Tervelon and Murray Garcia,1998)

Redress Power Imbalances

You?

“When I look at you I should not look at you and say this is a woman but I should look at you as the face of God and you look at me as a face of God."

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