The Ngo Handicap

By Eddy Guerrier

From his New-Hampshires home Mark OKeyney finds a job in an NGO based in Port-au-Prince HAITI. This will completely change his life. This is a book about finding out the complexity of this world and the miserable living conditions of most humans in not so fortunate countries, but it is also about feelings and true love. Enjoy it

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481716048

Eddy Guerrier

EDDY GUERRRIER has more than thirty years in the Insurance Business especially in his native country, Haiti. He graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School with honors and has a B.A. from Hamilton College, Clinton New-York. He is married, has children, and is a proud grandfather. Eddy enjoys reading, classical music and travelling.

Book preview

FROM WIKIPEDIA,

THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. The term originated from the United Nations (UN), and is normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of the government and are not conventional for-profit business. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organization. The term is usually applied only to organizations that pursue wider social aims that have political aspects, but are not openly political organizations such as political parties.

The number of internationally operating NGOs is estimated at 40,000.¹ National numbers are even higher: Russia has 277,000 NGOs; India is estimated to have around 3.3 million NGOs in year 2009, which is just over one NGO per 400 Indians, and many times the number of primary schools and primary health centers in India.

NGOs are difficult to define and classify, and the term NGO is not used consistently. As a result, there are many different classifications in use. The most common use a framework that includes orientation and level of operation. An NGO’s orientation refers to the type of activities it takes on. These activities might include human rights, environmental, or development work. An NGO’s level of operation indicates the scale at which an organization works, such as local, international, or national.

One of the earliest mentions of the acronym NGO was in 1945, when the UN was created. The UN, which is an inter-governmental organization, made it possible for certain approved specialized international non-state agencies—or non-governmental organizations—to be awarded observer status at its assemblies and some of its meetings. Later the term became used more widely. Today, according to the UN, any kind of private organization that is independent from government control can be termed an NGO, provided it is not-profit, non-criminal and not simply an opposition political party.

Professor Peter Willets, from the City University of London, argues the definition of NGOs can be interpreted differently by various organizations and depending on a situation’s context. He defines an NGO as an independent voluntary association of people acting together on a continuous basis for some common purpose other than achieving government office, making money or illegal activities. In this view, two main types of NGOs are recognized according to the activities they pursue: operational NGOs that deliver services and campaigning NGOs. Although Willets proposes the operational and campaigning NGOs as a tool to differentiate the main activities of these organizations, he also explains that a single NGO may often be engaged in both activities. Many NGOs also see them as mutually reinforcing.

THOUGHTS OF MY FATHER

DOMINIQUE GUERRIER

Every one of us is on a tightrope, like an acrobat in a show. Sometimes his performance does not succeed and he tumbles down in a free fall and hits the ground. The drama begins when he cannot recover from this fall in order to start again from scratch. For him the fall is not the drama; the drama begins when he cannot get up again to start all over: then his existence is really over.

Fortunately, the main character of this book (like most of us) does not let himself be ripped apart by the disappointments of life. From each bad experience comes out a profitable lesson, which serves as beacons for the future. It is the accumulation of those experiences that allows him to overcome the frustrations of his existence. It is from this that he reaches the full amount of his values and, by so doing, gets to know himself in order to lead a righteous life.

THE STORY OF MARK O’KEYNEY

WELCOME TO HAITI

The winter in New Hampshire this year was bitter cold, rendering life miserable once you stepped outside. Mark was enjoying the warmth and comfort of his parents’ house. A few months ago, he had finished his master’s degree in communication. This was a natural occurrence, since his family had substantial wealth. Mark did not really know what he would do with the rest of his life. He woke up this day and held his blond head in his hands; he thought about his relationship with his father, which had been difficult lately.

Father was an investment banker with a degree in finance, and he thought Mark had taken the easy way out by attending graduate school. He had hoped that his son would follow his footsteps and get a more practical degree. He did not think much about a degree in communications. Mark’s mother was more understanding; she thought that their son had the right to choose his own way. What made matters worse was that after graduating from the university, Mark could not find a job. He was still living in his parents’ house. If it were not for his mother, he would be penniless, in spite of his social standing. He felt his father carried a grudge against him and thought that things would not get better.

For obvious reasons, he did not want to address his father or seek a job in his social circle. He had to keep a little self-esteem in front of this rigid man, especially when he always accused his mother of pampering him as if he never grew up. Mark only felt at ease when his father went out, either to the bank or to play golf with his friends. He practically avoided his father unless it was really inevitable. This situation affected his mother dearly; he had to find a way to get out of this house.

Mark even avoided the friends that he grew up with. He never did like their air of superiority, from their accent to the way they dressed and carried themselves. No wonder that they were defined as WASPs. He used to go out with a girl but she dropped him to try better pastures. She wanted to be seen as the wife of a successful businessman who wore three piece suits (even to bed).

His sole companion was his Bedlington terrier called Sammo. Even Sammo at times acted as if it was also the creature that God created after his father at least they have a mutual understanding and Sammo could not evidently talk. In any case he caught the dog looking at him with wondering eyes as if it too wanted to ask him a few questions regarding his future. He waited patiently to hear his father drive off in his Jaguar before he ventured down the stairs to bid his mother a good morning (his father used to drive a Bentley but once he realized that this brand of car was favored by rich Americans in the entertainment business, he immediately traded for a less expensive but prestigious car nonetheless.

His mother was a well-bred, educated woman; she was simple and did not care much about her roots and the privileges that came with them. She was a religious woman and participated greatly in church activities. His father dutifully went to church with her every Sunday, but sometimes Mark wondered if they were praying to the same God. Sometimes he too went to church, always sitting beside his mother.

That day when he came downstairs, he saw his mother giving some type of instructions to their Mexican housekeeper; she barely spoke English but his mother was determined to turn her into a Shakespearian. She made her attend their church but didn’t ask her to convert from Catholicism. They also had a cook, and Mark was always amazed at the job that woman did, since his mother was always helping her do part of her job. Needless to say, that his father was a peculiar fork.

After breakfast, Mark went up to his bedroom to look on the Internet and see what he could find. He started to feel terribly annoyed after spending several hours searching for an opening related to his line of studies. He decided to confront the harsh cold and drive downtown to try his luck. Nothing really came out except for a position in a fast-food restaurant. Like a beaten dog, Mark drove back to his house, resolute to move out very soon even if he had to live in a dirt poor neighborhood. He could no longer bear the criticisms from his father. He thought of his lovely mother, whose blonde hair was turning lighter and becoming almost transparent. She was such a wonderful woman; his father should consider himself lucky to have such a wife. In spite of everything, Mark loved his parents dearly, but he was afraid of his father’s unwarranted discontent with him. Fortunately, when he got back to the house, his father was in a meeting in the living room; he was holding a bunch of papers and exchanging ideas with several people. His mother was busy being the talented hostess she has always been.

Mark normally stepped in to greet people he saw meeting with his father. His father was in a lighter than usual mood; it could have been the effects of a couple of drinks he had, or maybe he just made a few millions more for his bank? He introduced Mark with a certain pride in his voice, telling the people that he had the pleasure of presenting his son to them. He even added that he had a master’s degree in communication; that really took Mark aback. When his mother came into the room, she gave him a complicit smile; he knew very well that something was cooking, and he was no stranger to what it was.

He did not have to wait long before his father explained to him that most of these people were donors for charitable causes, and he and one of his colleagues were helping them raise funds for a non-governmental organization called Empower Confidence Organization for Haiti. ECO was providing help to the poor Haitians affected by the earthquake of January 12, 2010. One of them said to Mark that his father told them that he might be interested in helping them manage this organization.

Mark felt trapped; it was typical of his father to make decisions without even consulting him. However, this was a good opportunity for him to have a change of scene; it could not have come at a better time. He told them that he was available at the present time, and the ECO spokesperson offered him a salary beyond his own expectations. He would be the second in charge, and they would provide all his basic expenses from here to down in Haiti.

The only thing, he added, was the work was hard, and if he accepted, before going down there, he would have to have a complete medical and take all the necessary shots. The country was a melting pot for all kinds of infectious diseases.

Mark immediately agreed, and they asked his father to draw the necessary papers to make it official. Afterward, they congratulated him for being so gracious and willing to serve such a good cause, adding that his parents already spoke highly of him. Mark took a look at his parents and could see that both of them were genuinely sincere. Mark said to himself that he was leaving the nest with flying colors; at last, he would be his own man. He could not be happier. His only request was that he had to take Sammo with him; that did not present a problem as long as he also had a full medical review and had the necessary vaccines.

As expected, the usual good-byes with his mother were a mix of sadness and joy, whereas his father