Beyond Good Intentions

Book excerpt: Young and idealistic, Tori Hogan travels to Kenya as an intern for Save the Children, intent upon doing her part to improve the lives of refugees. But the cynicism of a young African boy changes Tori’s life and sets her on a course to reconsider everything she thought she knew about helping those in need. Years later, Tori returns to Africa and embarks on a journey through Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, searching for the truth about what does and does not work in international aid. While there are glimmers of hope along the way, she discovers an aid industry mired in waste, ineffective solutions imposed by well-intentioned outsiders, and humanitarian efforts that do more harm than good. Beyond Good Intentions is both a moving story of one woman’s personal journey and an urgent call to arms to change the way we offer aid overseas. Tori’s candid reflections on international aid shine a light on our ability to improve the lives of others, often in ways we would never expect.