Yes, I got excited with blog entries

I found the blog’s entries very interesting, particularly those who talk about personal experiences.

 

Let’s cite Hannah (blog entry 12^th march 2009), she said: design “for the other 90%”… of course, I do not like the fact that “other” is a key word in this statement.

Again, if we talk about ‘the other’ we separate ourselves, as designers we should feel part of that we are going to design for. Then Hannah continues: The work I am doing in India now is only the result of the close relationships that I formed there (…)

the best thing I can do is just try to listen to what people tell me about their lives and their needs, and start from there.

I thought her entry was genuine, full of hope even if working within a slum is such a difficult terrain. 

I remember going with my secondary school friends to a slum in Buenos Aires every weekend to give classes of mathematics and reading to kids without any access to schooling. By then I could imagine the realities of those areas. Being there was a different matter, it completely changed my views to talk with the people, to see how the pavement disappeared behind a portal made with wires in the middle of the city, into somehow another city, not far from my house, where we had to enter with a man that was part of a political party, there was no other way to get in to the place safely they said. We were probably used by that party to say they were doing something for the residents of the slum. However, no political party interested us, we were using them to get inside anyway. Of course the kids needed more than mathematics, reading and writing classes. Most of them were not accepted at school because of their home address, so they felt outsiders. They were so exited to share with us their places, their songs, somehow they could feel more integrated. We learned a lot there, I cannot describe how it changed my world, but I can say the impact of these relationships were very important. When Hannah says in the blog that the work she is doing is the result of close relationships she formed there, it makes me think that that is probably one of the best ways to design for society, to act locally and to learn from others.   

Going back to previous years entries on the blog I found this entry (Ryan Mulchrone 12^th march 2008): Our economic situation puts us in a position of responsibility for others but we must also learn to lose the superiority complex we have about poorer societies because we have just as much if not more to learn from them as they do from us.

Another entry says (Ruth 3^rd march 2008): Perhaps it is time we took some of their practices and reflected them into our culture.

I think this is already happening, and hopefully in the exchange we will find better solutions.

I think the educational system should be one that allows us to move into different towns, countries and continents to help us with the process of understanding. Understanding goes way further when we have the opportunity to experience.   

I believe governments have a great responsibility in education, citing Katka (blog entry 12 march 2007): When it comes to slums however, is it not also the politicians who become the designers? The ‘designers’ of peoples’ lives?

I believe they do, they should create more opportunities for people. If we could create and sustain an economy of fairer exchanges, there is no need for people to starve. We have the resources, there are so many skilled people without jobs that could be working in social projects teaching and applying what they learnt, and I am not just talking about people with formal education. When I hear there are not enough jobs I think what has happened with human creativity? Of course, there are millions of things to do out there as there are millions of people. Big companies should be forced by governments (not vice versa) to provide funding and infrastructure for this matter if they want to continue profiting within a country. They should take responsibility for environmental damage as well, they should receive back all the clutter they produce instead of discarding it into the land, they should support the creation of long lasting objects. I know I am talking of an economy that does not exist yet, but who knows how it will turn out to be. We may be being part of that change.