Is this the best use of resources?

I visited Africa for the first time on a trip sponsored by The Nature Conservancy. I'm grateful for the experience, as it was my first time setting foot on the continent. You can see the genuine joy on my face in the photo. Kenya was the perfect country for a first-timer, especially someone of African-American heritage. Connecting with the local people, learning about natural resources, and understanding the challenges of colonization and international involvement was one of the most educational and enriching experiences of my life. I have shared some videos on my YouTube channel that you can check out here: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy3I1c4jzZyD9NdlsQMSEs-yI6Tt0BM4j].

While it was a beautiful experience, I had some concerns. This trip included several colleagues, mostly white, with one Asian colleague. The purpose of these "fundraiser trips" is for fundraisers to learn about a program and its work to better inform their donors. It may sound noble, but there are some shady aspects to it. Only selected fundraisers are invited, and each fundraiser's unit is responsible for covering the costs. We were essentially flown out to stay at luxurious resorts and participate in activities that our donors would do, such as fancy dinners overlooking the savannah, safari excursions, and boat rides for elegant lunches. We stayed at European-owned establishments, praised for employing locals. However, I attended dinners discussing African resources where I was the only Black person invited. Many locals spoke candidly with me, surprised to see a Black person attending these trips, as very few people of African descent do. I observed how these trips primarily benefit the non-native community. While they do hire locals, it's usually for labor rather than leadership roles. Even when they do hire for leadership positions, those individuals often report to someone who is not of African descent. During the trip, the African program was overseen by a white man, who had succeeded another white man promoted to oversee all of the organization's conservation work. Eventually, they did hire an African man as the regional director, but without the same title and authority. In fact, the white man he replaced was promoted to an even higher role. That's how the organization operates.

The idea is for us to sample the experience and encourage our donors to take these trips and support the work in that part of the world. The donors, or prospective donors, are expected to pay for the trip and are "encouraged" to make a sizable contribution of at least $50K or something similar. They can organize it as a family and friends' trip or gather enough donors for a full trip. These trips cater to people accustomed to luxury, let me tell you. One of the conservancies we stayed at cost $800 per night. I had fur rugs on the bathroom floor, and each morning, biscuits and brandy were delivered as I enjoyed the view of giraffes and dik-diks. It was luxury with a capital L, the most luxurious trip I have ever taken.

During one dinner, the discussion revolved around the value of carbon in trees that have existed for centuries. I asked if it was equitable and just that those who had stewarded the land pre-colonization were not present at the conversation. When asked to clarify, I pointed out that we were talking about Kenyan resources, yet there were no native Kenyans at the table. The "owner" of the property, who was white, looked me in the eye and claimed to be Kenyan. I responded, "I am referring to native Kenyans who are most assuredly not of European descent." I emphasized that no discussion of Kenyan resources should occur without true Kenyan presence and that creating jobs is not where the accolades should be given because those who are creating the jobs are also benefitting more than anyone, definitely more than their local employees. I shared that I felt the organization should pat itself on the back when it helps to create native Kenyan employers. I also said that the fact that I was the only Black person at the table wasn't reflective of an effort that claims it is trying to be equitable. I won't share some of the other conversations that were had as we are still involved in a legal situation but I wasn't the only one aware of the disparities.

So basically, I along with my colleagues, had the time of our lives in Kenya for a full week. We explored several areas of the country. Yes, we learned a lot. But we spent a lot and it was all on the company dime. Not just our travel expenses but also the fact that we were technically on the clock. I looked at some of those photos and several of the people that attended no longer even work at the organization. I personally feel the entire practice is wasteful as it is currently structured. More money should be spent on local businesses owned by native Kenyans. The catering and coddling in these trips is considerable. This wasn't the only trip like this that I attended. We were spending money that had been raised to benefit the planet. The amount of money spent on these trips could literally be life changing for some many people. How does our flying around the world, using up carbon miles, really contribute to a healthier planet?

NEXT POST: Center Stage, Singing my Praise

With love,
Cee