dispatches from the new world of work

Cool Friend #141: Kathleen Colson

There is debate over the most effective way to eradicate poverty in Africa. Our new Cool Friend Kathleen Colson believes listening to Africans is the first step. She's listened for years, and, as a result, founded the BOMA Fund to put what she's learned into action. Through three programs, the Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP), Agents of Change, and Cows For Kids, BOMA helps groups in northern Kenya learn how to run businesses, become leaders, and start on the road to self-sufficiency. In her interview, Kathleen discusses how foreign aid disrupts African markets and how helping to bring viable new trade to Kenya could lead to a brighter future for people there. Learn more by reading her Cool Friends interview or visiting the website of the BOMA Fund.

Cathy Mosca posted this on 08/21/09.

Comments

Amen on Kathleen's perspective on Foreign Aid! I expect Americans (in particular) would be horrified to learn about the suffering we've inflicted on others with all our "aid" to corrupt governments (is that just redundant?) over the years. You go Kathleen!!!

Posted by Andrew at August 21, 2009 10:21 AM

Kathleen Colson is doing amazing things. It's true indeed that the power to change lives ultimately resides in people themselves, but often a spark is needed to ignite the tinder, and Kathleen certainly provides that. Congratulations to her.

Posted by RobCH at August 24, 2009 12:27 AM

admirable work by BOMA, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"
X C

Posted by Chelsea at August 24, 2009 5:24 AM

Chelsea, that's EXACTLY the quote I came to the comment section to post. Lao Tzu was 100% on the money with that one.

Posted by Dan Gunter at August 24, 2009 7:14 AM

We've had a few comments on this interview at Tom's Facebook fan page from people living in Africa. Check them out:
http://is.gd/2wRD8

Posted by Shelley Dolley at August 24, 2009 4:10 PM

I love this piece. What is interesting is how much the public perception of Africa has to change and how important this is - if people see them as victims that's how people respond - if we see them as business people that is a whole new ball game.

Also that one solution is not the answer loans work in some cases, grants in others - a much more pragmatic down to earth approach.

At the risk of lowering the tone of the post I couldn't resist this varient.....

Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and he will sit in a
boat drinking beer all day.

Posted by PaulH at August 25, 2009 1:24 AM

The key to Kathleen's success is that matter of listening and responding to local realities. It's no good teaching a man to fish in cattle country.

Posted by RobCH at August 26, 2009 12:30 AM

... and maybe Paul's point is why all but a handful of Grameen micro-loans are to women?

Posted by RobCH at August 26, 2009 12:32 AM

That's funny stuff!

Posted by The Joker at August 26, 2009 2:24 PM