Page 19 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper

Connection
YOuTH
presbyterian
19
presbyterian.ca
fall 2017
Critically
Thinking
about
mission Trips
amy helped to facilitate the PCC mission trip to malawi in 2016
By Amy Zavitz an MA candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ont. In 2015–16, Amy served as a Young Adult Intern with the Livingstonia Synod AIDS Program in northern Malawi. Amy grew up
in Listowel, attending Knox Church, and now worships in Knox Church Waterloo.
I want to take a moment to reflect on overseas mission trips.
Growing up in a Christian con- text, I frequently heard about mis- sion trips. These trips were intended to “do good in the world” and “help the less fortunate.” As I continued through elementary and secondary school, the ideology of these trips permeated secular society. I contin- ued to hear about three-week trips to countries like Kenya or Ecuador to build a school, or to volunteer in an orphanage, while experiencing a new culture. As a youth interested in the world, I was sold on this ideology.
When I was in high school, I be- came passionate about participating in one of these trips. However, I had not yet begun to think critically about what these experiences were pro- moting, and was blind to the impact they would have. I had not consid- ered asking myself: What is my true motivation for wanting to participate in a trip like this? If I am being hon- est with myself, who is benefiting from this trip? I was consumed by the emotional experience that I an- ticipated receiving, succumbing to unknowingly participating in an unin- formed and often damaging Western intervention.
I did not step back to consider the impact of a partially constructed school, built by a group of exception- ally unqualified teenagers. I did not do any research into whether there was a partnership with the local commu- nity, or whether a new school would actually contribute to increased edu- cation. I never inquired into systemic challenges—such as food insecu-
rity, gender discrimination or pov- erty—that prevented children from attending school. I did not consider whether the education system had the financial means to hire qualified teachers, or whether the school had access to clean water and sanitation facilities. I never wondered how it felt for the local children to have a new group of strangers constantly cycle through their community and take their picture. Building a new school might be easy; however, improving an education system in a sustainable and ethical way is not.
When I first began to critically think about international experiences, I transitioned through feelings of dis- comfort, defensiveness and embar- rassment about the way I viewed the world. The idea of mission or devel- opment through partnership was not a concept that I was familiar with.
Through this article, I don’t mean to imply that all international experi- ence is negative or damaging, or that we must play a purely passive role in the world. But I’ve been discov-
amy and mphatso, director of Living- stonia Synod aIdS Program, malawi
pact of how we are engaging glob- ally and ask ourselves why we are participating. We need to think about the motivations behind the work we are doing and we need to understand when we are causing harm. Investing in ourselves, whether through experi- ence or education, allows us to think critically, enabling us to offer some- thing of value. But more importantly, education and experience helps us to learn from those we are working in partnership with through authentic dialogue. Critical thinking allows us to begin to ask the right questions of the world’s biggest challenges and shows us that the answers need to be developed in a collaborative and respectful way. Moreover, it might tell us that we don’t have the answers at all. Working in partnership is the active, responsible and humble way we can engage with the world and be empowered to see challenges and address them in their specific con- text.
Many of us are privileged in that we have the opportunity to learn about and experience the world. But with privilege comes responsibil- ity. That responsibility is to be good stewards of our resources, to simply acknowledge that we do not have all the answers, and to reflect on our- selves and our places in this world.
amy Zavitz in malawi, 2016
PCC 2018 Wall Calendar
Bigger and be er than ever!
This new wall calendar is back to a full spread for each month and
the boxes for individuals days have increased in size.
The calendar provides unique church year dates for The
Presbyterian Church in Canada, as well as the lec onary and
church colours.
Cost: $5.00 each, or $4.00 for orders over 50 copies.
Order your copy today!
Learn more and order online at presbyterian.ca/calendar or call Parasource Distribu on at 1-800-263-2664
There is very little we can do, or should do, without rst learning
ering that there is very little we can do, or should do, without first learn- ing. If we do not fully understand the context we are working in, if we are not working in partnership with local organizations, if we are attempting to do work that we are unqualified for, will the work achieve the desired out- come?
Engaging in global experiences can be worthwhile, but we have a responsibility to understand the im-
he LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? — Psalm 27:1
Sunday Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Friday Saturday
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June
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August 1234
July
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Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver, British Columbia