Aid without faith – is there a place for religious NGOs in the 21st century?
Wednesday 7 January 2015 05.56 EST
We asked, you answered. As part of our Students Speak series, students share their thoughts on whether faith-based NGOs can continue to operate in a world of increasingly religious sensitivities
students who responded to our question said yes. They argued that religion was deeply rooted in many communities, and therefore it made sense for faith-based NGOs to work in those communities. Those who disagreed claimed religious NGOs attempt to convert the people they work with. Here are five of our favourite responses, and you can add your thoughts in the comments section below.
Religion has spearheaded social change
Yes. Religious NGOs play an important role as social service providers, and through their faith-based approach they have the ability to develop deeper relationships with communities in developing countries. Wendy Tyndale, in her 2003 analysis of a World Bank survey that collected voices from around the world, found that “no other organisations are more firmly rooted or have better networks in poor communities than the religious ones”. This ability to foster deep connections in communities cannot be overlooked.
- snip -
Only secular NGOs can claim to be independent
The complementary role that NGOs have in supporting and advancing development efforts is widely recognised, as assistance from locally based organisations and NGOs are given the difficult task of addressing poverty alleviation, social inequities and environmentally focused initiatives where governments’ and the private sector’s actions are simply falling short.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/07/aid-without-faith-is-there-a-place-for-religious-ngos-in-the-21st-century
= new reply since forum marked as read
