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Aidworker Blogs Posts

4 February, 2012 - 21:01

Is microcredit insane?

First off, a lot of microcredit programs operate under the assumption that there are large populations of entrepreneurs in countries with long histories of poverty who just need a tiny push in ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 17:00

East African etiquette

One of my favourite Juba-things, which is apparently also a Kenya-thing, is hand-shaking. You always shake hands with the people you meet, all the time, every person in the room, no matter how ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 17:00

Ugandan billboard of the day

The UN has declared that internet access is a human right. So we're [MTN] giving you that access for free. via Brian Swartz (More)

4 February, 2012 - 15:13

Calling all Brisbanites!

A good friend of Blue Dragon, Robyn Ramsay, is launching her book on Monday 13 in Brisbane: Finding Duong, Finding Myself. On a journey through this part of the world a few years ago, Robyn ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 13:33

Thoughts on Luang Prabang and 'different' Hanoi

As mentioned earlier, we spent Tet in Luang Prabang one of those places that I initially liked then struggled with the longer I was there. We started the holiday with an ongoing joke that ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 11:01

Awake training

Lack of sleep – yes, it comes with the territory. (Don’t you love how every Jane Dick and Joe peddles this brilliant insight gleefully to new parents, regardless s/he’s a parent herself? Like the ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 09:52

The Dragon's Deliverables

My yearly dynamic has been much altered by the lucky break that is having both local and western holidays. So two and a half weeks after returning from the UK for Christmas, it was time to Tet ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 09:21

Diep got married

I’m taking advantage of the immobility of a bad back to catch up on the blog which has been left idle for some time now. These pictures our from my sister-in-law Diep’s wedding. It was agreed ... (More)

4 February, 2012 - 08:32

Waking up to shit

An international emergency, killing millions every year from among the 2.6 bn people worldwide who dont have access to toilets. The story here in The Guardian, that of Liberia and its sanitation ... (More)

3 February, 2012 - 19:20

Playground Sponsor Form

The sponsor form for the film is now available. Click the link below to download the form. Sponsor Agreement Form Sponsors can register until February 17th. Please make checks payable to 'New ... (More)

3 February, 2012 - 14:13

India Bleg

I am going to India on Sunday. Yes, you read that right. My visa came through last night and I am off on Sunday afternoon. Despite missing the Super Bowl (Go Giants!), I am pretty excited. ... (More)

3 February, 2012 - 13:13

#2 Links Expat Aid Workers Like

And it’s Friday! Time for Number 2 in our experiment: Links Expat Aid Workers Like (a.k.a. LEAWL) @bill_easterly and the NYU Crew (with some help from @wrongingrights) host The ‘Exploiting Africa’ ... (More)

3 February, 2012 - 12:22

The economics of livelihoods

I'm not really sure what "livelihoods" means, except that I know that NGOs talk about it a lot, and that it seems to have something to do with helping poor people to generate more income. In fact ... (More)

3 February, 2012 - 02:00

Book Inscription

Here’s to the embarkation on a great journey. Here’s to a massive flop or a spectacular success. Here’s to nothing in between. Here’s to risk. Here’s to reward. Here’s to taking a chance. Here’s ... (More)

2 February, 2012 - 21:13

I Do Not Like Green Okra Soup

In homeschool today, one of Isaac's assigments (we've been reading Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" this week) was to write a similar poem after choosing a food that he doesn't like and writing ... (More)

2 February, 2012 - 15:11

Vote for the Best Aid Blogs of 2011

After collecting your responses, it is now time to vote for the best in aid blogging across 12 different categories. You will notice a few are missing. A post tomorrow will explain why. (More)

2 February, 2012 - 08:32

Spamalot

I was telling a friend last night that I continue to receive spam emails from a number of strange places (not strange like Nigerian bankers, but strange like places I've lived) and recalled the ... (More)

2 February, 2012 - 06:33

Indian defence purchase decision a blow to UK aid strategy?

I hope not...but there were a few interesting statements made yesterday over India's decision, in a $10 bn deal, to prefer the French fighter jet Rafale over the Eurofighter, manufactured by BAE, ... (More)

1 February, 2012 - 16:30

On posturing by MFIs

MS Sriram has an article on MFIs, where he insists on the importance on 'modesty' as an important personal and organisational attribute in general, doing business, but especially when working with ... (More)