Internal Dialogue
Before the departure to Paris, I did not have much time for the preparation as I have just left my previous job. Instead of packing, I indulged myself in going through what I have done in the passing 2.5 years. While working for one of the largest charity organizations supporting economically vulnerable children and families in Taiwan, it had shocked me so much that the solutions to eradicate the inequality gaps ultimately do not lie in our working methods or projects. Sponsorships, scholarships or other financial means may assist the families and communities to invest in projects to improve their living status quo, but such approaches do not provide the solutions to change the fundamental causes that have chained the people in vulnerabilities for once and for all.

One might argue that humanitarianism has reached out to a great population of those in needs, but no one can guarantee how long such outreach could last. In the international humanitarian world, the majority of the nonprofit organizations will only stay in the same communities for a certain time ; once these organizations decided to withdraw the resources from the communities, sometimes these communities might fail to regenerate the same vitality to encourage community development due to its long- term dependence on the “foreign” aides.

Meanwhile, in the humanitarian movements, the types of the interventions, as well as the approaches, could be mostly decided by the donors. The local inhabitants might be invited to discuss about their needs, but such actions do not necessarily reflect the true aspirations and the local consensus on the directions of the future local development. Sometimes there might be other conflicts or diverse perspectives in identifying the actual needs of the communities from the grounds ; such actions, in the mean time, do not further encourage local reflections or urge the solidarity of the people. In addition, sponsorships or donations can be made easily with a stable pool of financial resources and willing donors. Should the local communities urge its development completely based on the financial aides provided externally, such high- level of economic dependence might bring potential threats for these communities.

What if the humanitarian interventions cannot collect community consensus sufficiently in supporting the sustainability of local community development ? Once the humanitarian actions are suspended and the assistances are withdrawn, can the communities cope with the deficit of development fund and continue its journey on development ? Could there be alternative ways that are different from the “mainstream” humanitarian approaches to support and encourage local community development, mitigate the potential hazards that might come along with the climate change and other forms of disasters in the near future ?

The answers to these questions are what I have expected myself to explore, understand, reflect and learn in the upcoming time. I believe this is going to be an extremely challenging but inspiring learning journey for me. Before I go into further details, please allow me to give you a brief introduction of where I am going to be at for the following 10 months.

Life at IPAM
I currently work as an international volunteer for Initiatives for Another World (abbreviated as “IPAM”), a network composed of 6 associations that actively engage in activities to support international solidarity, battle along with those who are oppressed by the dysfunctional and unjustified system, and advocate for a world that is not only more suitable but more equal and democratic for every one to live in.  Just as the other associations, IPAM has its designated themes that they focus on specifically. Yet, it still carries the same conviction that through international partnerships and collective works, citizens can form a much louder voice to raise public awareness, speak for those who were kept silent or unseen, and assist the underprivileged to regain what they were deprived from in the society.

The 6 associations in IPAM include :

  • CEDETIM : a research centre created in the 60s that aims to work on the initiatives related to international solidarity. It recognizes the fundamental value of international solidarity in fostering a world with more freedom, equality and true democracy, and it is a social practice and theory that encourages collective actions, reflections and debates on the development and the alternatives towards the liberal globalization.
  • CEDIDELP : the International Documentation Centre for Development, Liberty and Peace, which has a previous collection of books, films, and other materials that have recorded the journey of the international solidarity movements around the world.
  • AITEC : a network of professionals, technical and expertise groups that dedicates to the exchange of information, professional knowledge and analysis on themes ranging from rights to the housing in the cities, access to rights and democracy, international financial reform, trade and development issues.
  • AMORCES : its objective is to assist the other international solidarity associations by supporting its initiatives, reflecting the working methods, reinforcing its capabilities, searching for financial resources, following up its actions and conducting assessments.
  • Echange et Partenariat : promotion of the exchanges and partnerships of the civil societies that work on international solidarity, reinforcement of the partnerships and accelerate knowledge or skill exchange via international volunteer deployment ; and,
  • HCA : the French branch of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA), a civic movement that focuses on democracy, peace and empowerment of civil society.

IPAM is located in an interesting big house named CICP (International Centre for Popular Cultures), where there are more than 80 associations dedicated to national liberation struggles, defending human rights, solidarity with immigrant workers, and social movements. Though the organizations here might have different approaches and focus themes, the goals remain the same : to facilitate and support the development of international solidarity.

Since I started working with IPAM, I have been mostly working with AMORCES and Echange et Partenariat. My main tasks include :

  • Assist AMORCES to compile a catalogue of the alterglobalist organizations around the world and search for potential donors for the alterglobalist projects ;
  • Participation of “International Intellectual Collective” project (the initiation date is around the end of November/ beginning of December) ; and,
  • Support the editing of the IPAM newsletter and other on-going initiatives.

One of my discoveries here : apart from the rich documentation and data preserved within the réseau IPAM (network of IPAM), I find the most valuable resources at IPAM are the people you meet here, including my colleagues and the volunteers/ supporters of IPAM. At the homeland of “altermondialisme” (French term for “alter- globalization”), the conversations with colleagues and work discussions have allowed me to observe how the idea of “another world is possible” is being realized through collective reflections and actions. Unlike the stereotypical imagination for the French, my colleagues at IPAM are genuinely friendly and helpful in so many ways; I am truly grateful for their efforts to make me feel at home.

In the meantime, I have been given the opportunities to read some literature related to the emergence and the evolvement of altermondialisme and what it truly encompasses nowadays. This is where I would like to commence my self- reflections for the upcoming journey.

(Continued in the next article « Reflection on Altermondialisme » )