Chido Murambiwa, Grade 11
UWC Waterford Kamhlaba
I didn’t expect Global politics to be as complicated as it was. Especially considering that most of my class members were from the global south. In the back of my head, I knew that there would be conflict but conflict that could be easily dissolved. The global south and global north have 2 very opposing ideas of what aid really does for a country. Most students from the global north mostly praised aid groups for their assistance towards countries in the global south. Students from the global south including myself agreed with them until the topic regarding businesses in local communities being affected by aid resulted in a drift. It had been common knowledge for most people in the class from African countries that their governments misused the aid or supported businesses from overseas.
Nonetheless, some of my friends from the global north argued that aid mobilizes people, especially after natural disasters, they rebutted saying that the dismantling of aid organizations could cause more damage than good. I agreed and likewise, the global south students in the conversation agreed but we had experienced the first-hand damage that the groups had done and how their staying in countries caused more damage to the economy than good. The tension between everyone felt like that feeling of holding your breath. It struck me that everyone in the room interpreted our topic so differently from one another. Even if my friend from Brazil and I laughed together when we related the circumstances in our countries, we had seen the topic so differently from each other. The argument reached a conclusion that people experience NGOs differently and history was so important during these arguments.
Despite us having arguments, they’re always productive and insightful. It is never me against them but me trying to understand them and them understanding me. Sometimes we don’t agree, but it doesn’t mean that our opinions are less or more valid. Being at a UWC sometimes feels alienating, considering we’re all so different and unique, but these moments when you’re able to connect with people from a different continent over similar life experiences are incredible.
Nonetheless, some of my friends from the global north argued that aid mobilizes people, especially after natural disasters, they rebutted saying that the dismantling of aid organizations could cause more damage than good. I agreed and likewise, the global south students in the conversation agreed but we had experienced the first-hand damage that the groups had done and how their staying in countries caused more damage to the economy than good. The tension between everyone felt like that feeling of holding your breath. It struck me that everyone in the room interpreted our topic so differently from one another. Even if my friend from Brazil and I laughed together when we related the circumstances in our countries, we had seen the topic so differently from each other. The argument reached a conclusion that people experience NGOs differently and history was so important during these arguments.
Despite us having arguments, they’re always productive and insightful. It is never me against them but me trying to understand them and them understanding me. Sometimes we don’t agree, but it doesn’t mean that our opinions are less or more valid. Being at a UWC sometimes feels alienating, considering we’re all so different and unique, but these moments when you’re able to connect with people from a different continent over similar life experiences are incredible.
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