This conversation rarely happens. As a volunteer who has had many different roles and served at many diverse organizations-I thought I was doing 'good' for others. But as I read these articles, I had to reflect...what I was doing, was it benefiting the people/animals/area in which I was helping...or did the service that was preformed help myself more so than the targeted audience?
The definition of 'good service' is a very tough concept. One thing that I agree with is that it is important to limit stereotypes and try to overcome power differences when volunteering.
Here are some quotes I feel strongly about in regards to community service.
"Foster education as the practice of freedom rather than reinforced domination" (Tasha Souza; Creating Social Justice in the Classroom)
"This world is small, so your ills are my ills; your goods are my goods" (Adam Davis)
"To talk of service, to really look at it, would require us to look closely at inequality. This is a difficult and an uncomfortable place to look." (Adam Davis)
"Ill-conceived or unwanted or badly executed or questionably motivated service-might not be good. Some--and perhaps all--service activities might be both good and bad." (Adam Davis)
"...we're not improving those we serve; we're only improving the conditions in which they find themselves." (Adam Davis)
"We should move towards equality." (Adam Davis)
"...inequality is present and in many ways desired and that this accounts in large part for the fact that service is not simple." (Adam Davis)
With these ideas in mind, I will continue to think about my service and the service that I will be preforming. This conversation will play on. I hope that you take a moment to think about what motivates you to take part in community service, is the service that you preform 'good', does 'good' service matter in your life and what actions or thoughts we can possess to help 'move towards equality'.
Until next time...
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