Whether or not a development project succeeds depends on the measure of success. The third world is littered with decaying infrastructure: broken pumps, empty libraries, crumbling latrines. During my Peace Corps service, I believed that these were all failures until I realized that the projects may have had definitions of success different from my own. Many individuals and organizations in the first world are eager to conduct well-intentioned projects in developing countries. Before taking off, I would encourage them to imagine how their definition of success compares with that of the local people.
Ben is the Graduate Fellow for International Development and Sustainability in the Sustainable Engineering master’s program. His research looks at the sustainability of rural water systems in Madagascar, where he spent three months this summer working with Catholic Relief Services and other local partners while supervising five undergraduate interns from Villanova. He served with the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa for three years from 2010 - 2013 working with animal husbandry and agroforestry in his village and with the administration to review and provide feedback on grant project proposals.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx