What is Bugging me about this Organization?

[smack]

So, I've been thinking of doing some work with these guys and something is not quite settled for me. What do you think about it? Tear it to shreds. I want some different views:

http://www.rswr.org/

[Ulvhedin]

Hrm..not my business what you choose to do of course, but why not do some work for a more well-known organization like the Red Cross? You know what RC stand for, and that what they do work. Just my 5 cents mate.

[Da Skinna]

I don't know much about this organization, but their aims are noble enough. Help newer NGO's out to help developing countries. Maybe cuz its their site, or I haven't read enough on there, but I don't see anything wrong other than that they seem to only wanting to help Quakers. (?)

I'm not sure, I'm tired, please explain your view so I better understand.

[smack]

I have no beef with helping Quakers. But they help anyone, not just Quakers (lots of Quakers in Africa, very few in India, the two main places).

RSWR help all sorts of third world people start up microenterprises, which I think is great. I think I don't like how RSWR just assumes that there is such a thing as 'Right Sharing', without going more deeply into philosophy or theology. Is that irritating or just my idiocy?

[Atheist Peace]

Well it seems like they might be prone to just thinking about this 'right sharing' no matter what the cirumstances, like those people who insist on being positive all the time (if you know anyone like that). But they could turn out to be great and really do good things for people, you just never know with a less known orginization like that, id agree with the previous poster about considering something like the red cross instead.

p.s. I really am not prejudiced against christian charities and such, if they are helping people, i mean actually helping people then that is great.

[enkidu]

I get the idea this organization was designed to help character building for young Quakers. I expect both the work they are doing, the peoples they are learning about while helping and the opportunities they have to discuss their religion with those they are helping all work along these lines.

go if you dont mind listening to that(I'm guessing they wont mind if you disagree); stay if you'd rather they just leave you out of the discussion of why they do it.

[al-caid]

I would add my own question: What is pushing me to laugh about this organization?

[Silencio]

Why did you want to wotk with them in the first place? What is your motive?

[Atheist Peace]

Have you considered that perhaps he wants to help people?

[Rolanbek]

Hmm...

Maybe what dosen't sit right with you Smack is that this is the most aggressive recruitment piece i have seen from a Quaker group.

It's not particularly aggressive compare to most other world religions recruitment style, but in comparision to the Quakers normal 'take it or leave it' style it Jars.

so tithing, instruction, worship, community works, etc. Sounds a little like being a Quaker, do you think?

(I Have no problem with Quakers or helping people. just to be clear )

R

[Tacticalwithdrawal]

I think I don't like how RSWR just assumes that there is such a thing as 'Right Sharing', without going more deeply into philosophy or theology. Is that irritating or just my idiocy?

I think you have to accept that religious-based aid groups will have their own philosophy and ethos and RSWR is very clear on its. I think you'd have to be at least very sympathetic to their message or it will begin to grate after a while (particularly when you get exposed to all their bright eyed and bushy tailed volunteers ). If you aren't a Quaker yourself I think you may find it really hard to get along with this lot for the long-term.

All that aside, they seem pretty good. Their list of projects seems very commendable and they have taken on board the fact that you need to put the women in charge of the money, which is always a good sign.

[smack]

Thanks for the feedback. A bit of a cynical eye helps too. They don't prosthelitize Quakerism through the organization. They're only interested in taking donations and then turning that into small businesses in the third world. They do employ some young people as interns, but mostly the US part of the operation is filled with mature, older people. Nobody I've met is the 'bright-eyed bushy-tailed' sort who is like 'I'm doin' the Lord's work baby, now lets listen to some Christian Rock!'. Its more practical minded.

Their projects have had successes. I find no fault with what they are actually doing. There's a lot of 1:1 accountability so that the small grants actually get used as intended, etc.. The 'fault' I find is in the assumption made, like I said, that there actually is such a thing as 'Right Sharing'. Apparently I didn't get the memo from God that says: 'There are X resources and they should be shared in this 'right' way'.

The other half of their project is to work with wealthy people on the values of Simplicity, for which the Quakers are well known. I dunno, I like this part of things too, but it needs something deeper than a few passages from the bible to make the big ethical picture complete. Maybe that's what I'll do for them: Re-vamp the website with a bigger ethical/historical/political/financial/theological explication of 'Right Sharing'.

Thanks again for the feedback, and if anyone has anything else to add, please do so. I may have to decide soon whether to take yet another non-paying job with these guys.

[Tacticalwithdrawal]

website could certainly do with a bit of re-work

If they really aren't prosthelitizing then I'd say go for it.

[Rolanbek]

Whatever makes you happy, friend.

R