A Personal Journey
Unveiling the Heart Behind Recovere
You might be wondering, “Why is this so personal?” From its humble beginnings as a concept created on my kitchen table, I was determined to find an easy way to donate my son’s baby clothes to someone in urgent need. Well I couldn’t find one charity to take the clothes!
I realised three things in that month;
1. Charities didn’t have a way to request the daily needs of their clients,
2. They didn’t have a warehouse out the back full of items for their clients,
3. We were terrible at guessing what people actually needed.
Juliette Wright and Red Cross member. Photo: Me!
I am very proud in in the model I created, as a smart and practical means for everyday people to actively participate in community recovery.
Remember they were in drought and there are only so many things that you can do with lasagna sheets! You would think that is not a bad thing but my uncle can still not eat pasta of any kind as it was a big problem on the ground, and “tasteless”. Since then I have been fascinated with well-meaning generous people donating items. I am now contacted on a regular basis by communities affected by disasters looking for a scalable donation management platform, as communities affected by natural disasters often have a second disaster.. donations that come without warning that impeded aid agencies from doing their good work. Unsolicited Bilateral Donations (UBDs) are also often culturally inappropriate.
I have a collection of great stories, some from the front line, but some I need to prove! They are just too crazy. Maybe that is my Podcast series!
Here are a list of UBD stories that were quite serious.
1. The Case of Mouldy Blankets – Haiti Earthquake (2010)
What Happened: After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, unsolicited donations flooded in, including blankets. Unfortunately, due to poor storage and shipping conditions, many of these blankets arrived in a mouldy and unusable condition.
Consequence: The influx of mouldy blankets not only posed health risks but also added an additional burden on the already strained waste management systems.
2. Expired Medications – Indonesia Tsunami (2004)
What Happened: In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, well-meaning donors sent medical supplies, including expired medications, which were of no use to the affected population.
Consequence: Expired medications not only risked the health of those in need but also contributed to the challenges of disposing of unusable items.
3. Inappropriate Clothing – Syrian Refugee Crisis
What Happened: During the Syrian refugee crisis, inappropriate clothing donations, such as winter coats in the middle of summer, flooded collection centres.
Consequence: Inappropriate clothing not only overwhelmed aid organisations but also wasted resources and left refugees with items they couldn’t use immediately.
4. Unsolicited Toys – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)
What Happened: Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, numerous unsolicited toy donations arrived, overwhelming local organisations.
Consequence: The focus on toys diverted attention from more urgent needs, creating challenges in managing and distributing donations effectively.
5. Useless Food Items – Malawi Famine (2002)
What Happened: During the famine in Malawi, well-intentioned donors sent food items that were culturally inappropriate and unfamiliar to the local population.
Consequence: The unfamiliar food items were left unused, contributing to food wastage and not addressing the immediate nutritional needs of the affected population.
Learning from these examples emphasises the need for a more thoughtful and coordinated approach to aid delivery, ensuring that assistance aligns with the immediate needs of the affected communities.
So many people need support. Let’s solve that!! That’s my purpose.
Thanks for reading my first blog! I’m excited!
Jx
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