Maisha Chap Chapa (Loosely translated "fast food life")
On the second and final day of the training session, the e-philanthropy expert advised that the good organizational website must allow visitors a “quick in, quick out”. The website must allow the visitor to “see that they want to see, do what they want to do and leave”. This is true for any internet surfer and for me too. As I search and visit different websites, some through a scheduled and specific visit others as a result of interesting links and connections (that always seem to take me further away from my initial target, I must add), if the site does not download quickly enough or I find that I cannot handle the amount of information on the landing page, I move away in seconds.
This “quick in, quick out” approach applies to our personal lives as well. At the very least, the way we drive on the roads of Nairobi suggests that we think in a rather “quick in, quick out” approach and the driver in front of, behind or even beside me be damned. Interestingly, the larger the vehicle the more likely it is to want to move into that small space in front, on the next lane. Public transport vehicles are the most insane and quick pedaled among all drivers, and this applies across the country. In each town I have been to I am under the impression that there is a PSV driving school that teaches “drive fast, be inconsiderate, know a cop”. Many drivers of private vehicles are increasingly following the trend of PSV drivers or perhaps more PSV drivers own private vehicles.
But these were all random thoughts generated from an e-philanthropist’s words about the benefits non-profits can gain from technology.
I must add that on this second and final day of training I also learned that the youth organizations that I work with must document their wonderful works. The leaders of the organizations must document their personal journey and experiences in making their vision a reality. These youth organizations must make use of technology to fundraise but most importantly to demonstrate that good leaders exist and are doing necessary and wonderful things for their communities across Kenya. For these, they must get listed on important international directories such as www.dmoz.org or http://dt.yahoo.com or www.zoominfo.com. The fact is the impact of their work is not based on a “fast food approach”. The work of these organizations touches another young person’s life, changing and challenging their World view and ultimately I hope, make them a more responsible Kenyan and World citizen.
