Dependency is not something that can be easily talked about. It’s not anything that anyone truly wants to own up to. You definitely don’t brag about it. I’m sure that few ever say “I’m so glad that I’m wholly dependent on this other person for my every need”. Though we were created to thrive in communities based on mutual partnership, relationship, and humble service to one another, we were also meant to be independent and self determining within an environment of true freedom.
But what was meant is often not what comes to be.
We live in a world where dependency is often the norm when it comes to the relationships between countries, communities, projects, and even individuals, across the globe. Countries in the majority world are kept dependent on their colonizers. Communities are forced into dependency by policies and practices of those who have greater access to power. And the well-meaning and charitable endeavors of outsiders create environments and expectations where handouts, paternalism, and hierarchies of power are commonplace.
Cultivate’s vision is to fight dependency, to build a world where communities thrive on their own resources, efforts, and dreams. We’re working to create an organization where partnerships are truly mutually beneficial, where relationships are based on equality, humility, and service to the other. Where the flow of resources isn’t tied to the loss of self determination, ownership, and power.
We seek to empower and mobilize our partners, to serve them, to work alongside them, to advocate for them, and to cheer them on as they better their communities.
Yes, we live in a world where dependency is commonplace. Yes, the reality is that much of the financial support for charitable work worldwide comes from the United States. Yes, most of the communities of our partners struggle with poverty and do not have the capacity to fully sustain their community development and charitable efforts. But just because these realities exist, doesn’t mean we can’t fight for change.
-Elaine, Executive Director
