What I'm doing can potentially make the world worse; reflections from school

"We're richer and more powerful than you, so you better listen to our advice on how to not be poor"

My local volunteer buddy's English class in Tanzania

Development can be detrimental  and perpetuate all the things wrong with the world also. Everyone who were quick to compliment me on this "noble cause" might not have warranted that compliment so quickly had they known it might even further destruction...

This "Western Saviour Complex" is a struggle that development practitioners encounter. How does the Western world help a poor country without repeating colonial history?

Or more academically; how do we not appear hegemonic, neo-colonialist, and de-meaning to the people that we are there to help. Not all noble actions are without consequence and in this case, perhaps, deliberate actions to keep them poor. 

Mozambique as a world example

Take Mozambique as an example, in 1975 after they won independence from Portugal, WHO (World Health Organization; a branch of the UN) declared their health care system should be a model upon which all other are based in the developing world. By 1980's they have established 1,200 rural health posts, 8000 health workers were trained, and 11% of the government budget was committed to health care. And then the Rhodesia war broke out.

Enter the IMF and their crusade to develop the poor

By 1987, Mozambique adopted an IMF Structural Adjusted Program (SAP). For those who don't