The truth

I participated in a fantastic meeting this morning that was not only a microcosm of my PNG work experience but could also have served as the subject of an sociology course. While the subject of the meeting, in and of itself, was rather pedestrian, the nuances of the idea exchange were phenomenal and highlighted the stark differences between cultures and the understanding of why VSO is working in PNG.

VSO has undergone a change in philosophy in regards to their international education program. Essentially, the organization wants to move away from service delivery (ex. teachers teaching English) towards capacity building (assisting teachers in building curriculum, programs… 'teaching teachers').

VSO feels, and I do as well, that this kind of position can have a positive outcome on a greater number of people.

Well, this was explained this morning to the principal of Rosary. He did not take the news well. In fact, I thought he was going to start weeping.

Our diplomatic explanation did little to cushion the blow. Under duress, the truth came out as the principal went on a telling diatribe.

The rant (in essence):
You VSOs come to Papua New Guinea and Rosary has done so much for you and spread the good word about your organization. Now I see you want to pull out of our school. VSO has taught us things and now other schools are doing the same thing and we get nothing in return. Now I see all the VSOs working in Kundiawa, stealing our volunteers. This is a sad day…

To break this down:
· The principal thinks we owe him because he has spread the good word about VSO. This, quite simply, is ridiculous

· We do not want to pull out of the school - we simply are changing the focus of what the volunteers should be doing. Furthermore, Rosary has received a steady flow of volunteers going on a decade. No other school in the province has enjoyed this kind of attention - not even close.

· The principal is ticked off that other schools have borrowed ideas that Rosary has implemented. This is exactly what VSO (and the department of education) wants to see happen.

· 'stealing our volunteers'… this deserves its own paragraph
For years, Rosary has held a monopoly on international volunteers. This was a huge feather in the principal's cap. It made him a big man. He was able to strut around and laud about members of HIS staff hailing from England, Holland, USA, etc. Now, other organizations are getting the resources that only he once enjoyed and he is furious. And frankly, he's being a big baby about it.

I felt a little bad about the logistics of the meeting. It was scheduled for 11am, so me and the other two VSOs were sat and situated five minutes till.

We had ample prep time for the principal did not join the meeting until 11:30am. He sat on the other end of the table. What was supposed to be a simple meeting in which we explained what we wanted to do with the school next year turned into a lugubrious affair. You would have thought someone died. It was rather colonial - the three evil white men at one end delivering a message of harsh reality to the village leader. It was a tag team effort too - with the three of us interjecting different points in a concerted effort. We overwhelmed him and it did not seem fair. To compound the tone the power went out in the middle of conference, providing an ominous setting of despair.

On the other hand, I think it was the most effective meeting I have been involved with in PNG. In my experience, too much effort is concerned with pomp and circumstance and not enough energy is devoted to the task in hand.

Over half of the meetings I attend are devoted to the opening prayer, addressing of speakers, thanking of contributors, repeating of points and the closing. A lot of fluff. Challenging issues are tiptoed around and decisions are rarely made. Everything is pushed back to another meeting, which often never comes. Frustration is just not a strong enough word.