So you think you can help? Voices from the South: The Future of Western Development Aid
Symposium organized by the Soeterbeeck Programme, in cooperation with NCDO and United Netherlands
Introduction
Nowadays, Western development aid is no longer above criticism. An increasing number of experts from the Netherlands and from countries in the South seriously doubt the value of continuing development aid as before. Economic balances in our world are shifting and countries are no longer clearly divided between haves and have-nots. Emerging economic powers like China, Brazil, and India seem to be doing fine without any external help. Yet, do some ‘poor' countries still need the help of the West? Is development aid the right way to foster social progress? Or is development aid fast becoming a concept of the past?
Kon Kelei and Praful Bidwai give voice to the South by talking about the future of Western development aid from their own perspective. Perhaps we could still lend a helping hand?
Speakers
Kon Kelei LLM was a child solider in southern Sudan. He escaped and eventually fled to the Netherlands where he read law at the Radboud University Nijmegen. After graduation he returned to Sudan where he now teaches at the University of Bor. During his years in the Netherlands he became a well-known ambassador of War Child. He was founder of the Cuey Machar Secondary School Foundation, which aims to improve secondary education in southern Sudan. He played a part in Marco Borsato's movie Wit Licht (White Light) about the plight of child soldiers in Africa.
Dr Praful Bidwai is a prominent Indian journalist, social scientist and human rights activist. He is one of India's most productive columnists and writes for The Guardian, Le Monde Diplomatique, and Il Manifesto. He served as editor of The Times of India for several years, eventually becoming its Senior Editor. He published several books and articles on political economy, sustainable development and international relations. Today, he serves as a scientist for the renowned Transnational Institute, a worldwide network of scholar activists. In 2000 he received the Sean MacBride International Peace Prize.
Dr Lau Schulpen, researcher of the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN), chairs the meeting.
Details
Free admission for students. Open to everyone who is interested!
Date: Wednesday March 16, 2011
Time: 19.30 - 22.00 hrs.
Location: Aula Radboud University, Comeniuslaan 2, Nijmegen
Update: Registration is closed
