Transformation, Faith & the Helping-Hurting Bind

Presentation Type

Poster

Keywords

Transformational Development; helping-hurting bind; power bind; sustainable development; reconciliation; agency; merged narratives; holistic approach

Department

Communication

Major

International Studies

Abstract

This study explored how the Kibo Group (a NGO in Uganda) integrates political, cultural, and faith practices to function as a prototype of the Transformational Development Model (Myers, 2014) that breaks through a “helping-hurting” (Corbett & Fikkert, 2012) power bind. Findings demonstrate that the five Kibo Group projects allow sites for political and cultural practices to be negotiated through the use of already established structures to create bottom-up, grassroots sustainability. Kibo uses negotiative structures of managing uncertainty, collectivism, and hierarchy as forms of creativity and constraint; and “double cultural language” spoken by the local project leaders to enable the transformation of imminent volatilities into desired Ugandan values. Although not identifying as a Christian organization, Kibo is motivated by a spirit of relational reconciliation as it seeks to confront poverty and injustice rather than evangelism, per se. The project practices decouple the patron-client power bind of Ugandans as clients and Westerners as patrons. Power dimensions are restructured through a Ugandan ethic of “cutting a covenant,” Westerners functioning as counter patrons, and collective agency through partnership. Transformation begins with mutual learning, then grows with trust, and develops into a partnership that becomes an enactment of a Kingdom view of the church with Jesus as patron and Ugandan and Western believers alike as clients seeking reconciliation with each other, Muslims, and God. Merged international and biblical narratives help create an experience of ongoing reconciliation and celebration, which embodies a holistic long-term sustainable development.

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Juanie Walker

Funding Source or Research Program

Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative

Location

Waves Cafeteria

Start Date

1-4-2016 2:00 PM

End Date

1-4-2016 3:00 PM

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Transformation, Faith & the Helping-Hurting Bind

Waves Cafeteria

This study explored how the Kibo Group (a NGO in Uganda) integrates political, cultural, and faith practices to function as a prototype of the Transformational Development Model (Myers, 2014) that breaks through a “helping-hurting” (Corbett & Fikkert, 2012) power bind. Findings demonstrate that the five Kibo Group projects allow sites for political and cultural practices to be negotiated through the use of already established structures to create bottom-up, grassroots sustainability. Kibo uses negotiative structures of managing uncertainty, collectivism, and hierarchy as forms of creativity and constraint; and “double cultural language” spoken by the local project leaders to enable the transformation of imminent volatilities into desired Ugandan values. Although not identifying as a Christian organization, Kibo is motivated by a spirit of relational reconciliation as it seeks to confront poverty and injustice rather than evangelism, per se. The project practices decouple the patron-client power bind of Ugandans as clients and Westerners as patrons. Power dimensions are restructured through a Ugandan ethic of “cutting a covenant,” Westerners functioning as counter patrons, and collective agency through partnership. Transformation begins with mutual learning, then grows with trust, and develops into a partnership that becomes an enactment of a Kingdom view of the church with Jesus as patron and Ugandan and Western believers alike as clients seeking reconciliation with each other, Muslims, and God. Merged international and biblical narratives help create an experience of ongoing reconciliation and celebration, which embodies a holistic long-term sustainable development.