Be the change: Small Step – Big Change, by Wendy Lee

Written on October 7, 2009 by Akhila in be the change series, social change

When people asked me why I decided to join the Peace Corps, I always have a difficult time constructing a good answer. Truth be told, I didn’t join the Peace Corps to change the world. I joined because I wanted to continue living abroad but couldn’t decide where to begin finding a job. I liked the idea that the Peace Corps picks the country for me – throwing the dart so to speak.

For the first few months of my time in village, I had a hard time defining my role here. My French was terrible; how was I suppose to go change lives and “develop small enterprises”, when people can barely understand me when I am trying to buy food for dinner? After a while, I decided that these two years are really more of a self-discovery journey, and if I happen to impact someone along the way, great, if not, well at least I’ve somehow developed myself for the better.

Once the pressure was off, I found more confidence in my work. While the changes are still minute – saving envelopes for kids who fetch water for me, English lessons for school kids and neighborhood women’s group – I began to feel more comfortable in my language ability, and with that, things became smoother. My Books For Cameroon library project grew and somehow I found myself building 30 libraries in this country. To my surprise, I am actually advising entrepreneurs through business classes and someone is actually setting up a small business in the village.

Yet with the success, I realized that social change as I knew it before coming to Cameroon was a big idealized concept. In raising money for my project, I faced many obstacles. Foundations require complicated grant-requesting processes from non-profit organizations, and individuals were more willing to give their money to fancy campaigns dedicating to one great cause or another. So what is a young 20-something to do when she is trying to execute a project?

I am not alone. There are many other twenty-something volunteers and individuals out in the field, attempting to launch projects with what little resources they have. I meet them all the time, and we share similar struggles – not enough money, not enough power to find money, and a big will to achieve many things.

The truth is, people of our generation are out there making small changes, but they are small and thus often gone unnoticed. Yet what weighs more, I think, is the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone and to attempt unveiling the source behind problems. By living with the people, understanding the culture context and that “our way is not always better”, significant relationships are formed and powerful changes are created.

The Changemaker

Wendy Lee is a second year Peace Corps Volunteer serving in a small village in Cameroon, West Africa. She documents her adventures through her blog Round II: Cameroon, where she draws connection between moving from Taiwan to the US and moving from US to Cameroon. Her goal in life is to live on every continent besides Antarctica and speak six languages. Her favorite foods in her care packages are Flavor-Blasted Goldfish and Peanut M&Ms.

Connect with her over at her blog, Round II: Cameroon, or on her Twitter @wendylee86!

18 Comments - Leave a comment!

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Wendy, I just want to thank you for this wonderful post! I really love the personal story and your experience in the peace corps. I especially like this part:

By living with the people, understanding the culture context and that “our way is not always better”, significant relationships are formed and powerful changes are created.

YES — through experiences like Peace Corps, I think you realize that social change isn’t something that can suddenly be achieved. It’s not that easy and it’s not going to happen overnight! However what I think you do realize is how important it is to just LEARN. First we have to educate ourselves, and we have to really understand the people we are working with/for — when we’re trying to help people, we have to first feel a bond with them and understand their culture. What better way than living with them, immersing yourself in their community? I think starting by feeling this bond with other people is an important way to realize how although change may not happen suddenly, it doesn’t mean we have to give up…we can do it slowly while learning about those we are trying to help.

Wendy

And thanks for allowing me this opportunity, Akhila. I thought it was especially to emphasize the “being with the people” part because I have noticed a big disconnect between “aid workers” – the people in big-scale NGOs, int’l orgs, etc. – and the people they are serving.

Sometimes people can get lost in their fancy cars, nice houses, and big stipends, and forget why they are really here.

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

Wendy, I just want to thank you for this wonderful post! I really love the personal story and your experience in the peace corps. I especially like this part:

By living with the people, understanding the culture context and that “our way is not always better”, significant relationships are formed and powerful changes are created.

YES — through experiences like Peace Corps, I think you realize that social change isn’t something that can suddenly be achieved. It’s not that easy and it’s not going to happen overnight! However what I think you do realize is how important it is to just LEARN. First we have to educate ourselves, and we have to really understand the people we are working with/for — when we’re trying to help people, we have to first feel a bond with them and understand their culture. What better way than living with them, immersing yourself in their community? I think starting by feeling this bond with other people is an important way to realize how although change may not happen suddenly, it doesn’t mean we have to give up…we can do it slowly while learning about those we are trying to help.

Wendy

And thanks for allowing me this opportunity, Akhila. I thought it was especially to emphasize the “being with the people” part because I have noticed a big disconnect between “aid workers” – the people in big-scale NGOs, int’l orgs, etc. – and the people they are serving.

Sometimes people can get lost in their fancy cars, nice houses, and big stipends, and forget why they are really here.

http://rubyku.com/ Ruby

Hey Wendy,

I took a look at your blog – really great stuff. I myself just came back from a summer in Botswana so I can totally relate when you said, “By living with the people, understanding the culture context and that “our way is not always better”, significant relationships are formed and powerful changes are created.”

Sometimes it’s hard to find people that understand how I’m feeling now. Any chance you feel the same way? It’s a mixed feeling between wanting to be home and to be somewhere else, between a stable life and an exotic life, between missing being comfortable and missing learning something new everyday…

Thanks for sharing your stories. Let’s talk more offline

Wendy

Thanks for the comment, Ruby. I am still in Cameroon, but I did get a taste of how no one understands and/or cares when I was on vacation for a few weeks this summer. It will certainly be a challenge returning to the “real world”.

http://rubyku.com Ruby

Hey Wendy,

I took a look at your blog – really great stuff. I myself just came back from a summer in Botswana so I can totally relate when you said, “By living with the people, understanding the culture context and that “our way is not always better”, significant relationships are formed and powerful changes are created.”

Sometimes it’s hard to find people that understand how I’m feeling now. Any chance you feel the same way? It’s a mixed feeling between wanting to be home and to be somewhere else, between a stable life and an exotic life, between missing being comfortable and missing learning something new everyday…

Thanks for sharing your stories. Let’s talk more offline

Wendy

Thanks for the comment, Ruby. I am still in Cameroon, but I did get a taste of how no one understands and/or cares when I was on vacation for a few weeks this summer. It will certainly be a challenge returning to the “real world”.

http://vsap.org.au/ echo liberty

Hi Wendy and Akhila,

Thanks for your wonderful posts. It’s so engaging and encouraging to read about the initiatives of others.

I’m the president of a Melbourne (Australia) based student charity that sends medical equipment overseas to developing communities. This year our project is to send medical textbooks to a teaching hospital in the developing world – though we haven’t decided on which one yet. Do you have any ideas/contacts?

We run lots of other initiatives too. We raised 27,000 AUD for HIV/AIDS research and prevention. We also create our own Global Health curriculum for University of Melbourne students wanting to learn more (we had a range of speakers come in to talk about conflict, economics, religion and sanitation – we even had a Nobel Laureate!). Next year I’ll be attending the WHO’s Health Conference in Melbourne.

Love your blog Akhila, as I’ve said before. Sorry I never have enough time to post comments. If you have any questions then don’t hesitate to ask!

Cheers,
Echo

PS this is an alias
http://vsap.org.au echo liberty

Hi Wendy and Akhila,

Thanks for your wonderful posts. It’s so engaging and encouraging to read about the initiatives of others.

I’m the president of a Melbourne (Australia) based student charity that sends medical equipment overseas to developing communities. This year our project is to send medical textbooks to a teaching hospital in the developing world – though we haven’t decided on which one yet. Do you have any ideas/contacts?

We run lots of other initiatives too. We raised 27,000 AUD for HIV/AIDS research and prevention. We also create our own Global Health curriculum for University of Melbourne students wanting to learn more (we had a range of speakers come in to talk about conflict, economics, religion and sanitation – we even had a Nobel Laureate!). Next year I’ll be attending the WHO’s Health Conference in Melbourne.

Love your blog Akhila, as I’ve said before. Sorry I never have enough time to post comments. If you have any questions then don’t hesitate to ask!

Cheers,
Echo

PS this is an alias
http://pointlessly.org/ Roz

Hello Wendy!
Thanks for your insightful blog post. I loved the point you made about the self-discovery journey. Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to make an impact, and focus so much on it, that we don’t really realize taking a step back and focusing on ourselves — for a change, perhaps! — is really making an “investment” for ourselves (and, in turn, for the “greater good”).

I think it’s great you’ve decided to step outside your comfort zone. This is something I have yet to do, and hope to do once I finish my undergraduate years in school.

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

This is a great point, Roz! I love the idea that you have to remember to reflect on YOUR own experience. A big part of things like the peace corps or volunteering is not just what we can contribute — in fact often we can’t contribute as much as we’d like. Often the bigger impact is in making US more passionate and giving us a better understanding of these problems.

http://pointlessly.org Roz

Hello Wendy!
Thanks for your insightful blog post. I loved the point you made about the self-discovery journey. Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to make an impact, and focus so much on it, that we don’t really realize taking a step back and focusing on ourselves — for a change, perhaps! — is really making an “investment” for ourselves (and, in turn, for the “greater good”).

I think it’s great you’ve decided to step outside your comfort zone. This is something I have yet to do, and hope to do once I finish my undergraduate years in school.

http://akhilak.com/blog Akhila

This is a great point, Roz! I love the idea that you have to remember to reflect on YOUR own experience. A big part of things like the peace corps or volunteering is not just what we can contribute — in fact often we can’t contribute as much as we’d like. Often the bigger impact is in making US more passionate and giving us a better understanding of these problems.

http://www.lionslinger.com/ Walter

Blessed are people like you who contributes her time for the betterment of others. I believe that our ultimate purpose is to help one another.
http://www.lionslinger.com Walter

Blessed are people like you who contributes her time for the betterment of others. I believe that our ultimate purpose is to help one another.
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Ray

Which village are you in now. My son is going to be in Belo for a few months