Thursday, November 27, 2008

Personalizing the Conference

Several times participants have asked that we "tell the story" of some of the people most affected by the discussions we are having. After all the subtitle of the conference is "Investing in People-Centered Development." Too many words, too many papers, not enough faces-- it is easy to forget we are really talking about people and their ability to provide a life for themselves and their families.

So let me attempt to put a face on the discussion ... Let me introduce you to Jhil, a 10 year employee of the restaurant in the hotel where this conference is being held. He started as a waiter and now is the captain. He is married for six years with a son and a five day old daughter.

A wonderful success story, right? Unfortunately it is not. Jhil is from Nepal and his young family lives there. He spends his year working six days a week at the hotel in Qatar. He can afford to spend one month each year with his family in Nepal.

Talk to almost any of the young workers, male and female, at the hotels in town, the taxi drivers, the workers on the street and you will hear them describe very similar circumstances. Only the countries of origin will differ.

For the younger ones it might be seen as a great opportunity-- living in another culture and work opportunities not available at home. But for those ready to raise a family, it is a time of absenteeism from the partnership of marriage. For the men it means missing out on years of their children's lives.

Wages they could earn in their home country would not be sufficient for them to establish themselves in business nor provide anything more than the very basics for their families. So they make a choice-- they leave their poor country in order to provide a better financial foundation for their family.

Not once during this conference have I heard the words "family" or "marriage" mentioned. It has been about debt reduction, systemic reform, gender equality, trade, etc. And this is during a conference entitled "Investing in People-Centered Development."

Perhaps we are fighting for the same things-- just coming at it from a little different direction. However I find that when my eyes cross at all the legaleze being tossed around, it is easier to stay focused when I realize the very polite, smiling young person serving you coffee represents the millions who are in similar situation. Their absent spouses and children asks that we provide a world in which families can live as families with adequate resources. That is an investment in people-centered development!

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