Provocateurs Not Philanthropists

Book excerpt: You want to make a difference - to use your passions and talents in the 'developing world' and create a meaningful, lasting impact. But you also know that billions of dollars are wasted on faulty and misguided aid and development projects on an annual basis. While governments, multilateral organizations, and billionaire philanthropists continue to look for the next 'silver bullet', can you be confident that you can make a difference with who you are, what you have, and what you can imagine for the communities you feel called to work with? Yes you can, according to Maiden R. Manzanal-Frank, a global impact advisor with roots in the Philippines and more than a decade in international community development experience. In fact, where larger institutions and philanthropists often fail, you might well succeed by becoming a provocateur instead. Unlike the philanthropists, provocateurs are everyday leaders such as entrepreneurs, teachers, farmers, and engineers. They are ordinary people who make extraordinary personal and professional contributions to making the world a better place. This book distills real-life examples and insights from the experiences of provocateurs in the Global South into practical principles for success that will ensure your impacts will be sustainable and generative.