If You Really Want to HelpExemple

The Leadership Council

As I said yesterday, I didn’t know what I was doing when I started 410 Bridge. Sure, I had plenty of experience running businesses, and I had the drive and passion to back up my dreams. But 410 Bridge would need more than that if we were going to truly help the poor.

We would need help from others... As the pieces that would become 410 Bridge came together, I worked with other smart, talented, and passionate people to develop our goals and values. I needed their expertise. And that need extended internationally. I quickly realized that my Western friends and I didn’t have the whole picture regarding how to address poverty. Who was I to walk into a community that was not my own, believing I had the answers? How can I presume to know their vision, gifts, and needs better than they do? We needed to place the task of leadership squarely where it belonged… in the communities we aimed to help.

That is why one of our core tenets at 410 Bridge is the Leadership Council. This council is made up of five to thirteen members of the community. These members represent different parts of the whole — different sub-villages, genders, age ranges, and ethnicity. The goal is that their combined wisdom and experiences will help guide the community, and pull 410 Bridge with them, toward long-lasting, meaningful change.

The truth is, none of us have the vision to see the whole picture. We need the wisdom of others because, so often, we can scarcely see past our own desires and ideas. When I first went to Uganda, I had an idea of the best way to approach the problem of poverty. I was wrong. Dead wrong. It would take years of relationships with indigenous people to learn how to truly serve their communities well.

In Exodus 18, we see an overworked Moses attempting to lead the people of Israel. His father-in-law, Jethro, is visiting, and Jethro quickly notices that Moses needs help. So, he imparts some very direct, specific and hard-earned wisdom. Jethro instructs Moses to delegate some of his work to others so Moses can focus on his ultimate role — receiving and sharing the word of God.

Just like Moses needed Jethro’s wisdom, you will need the wisdom of others if you want to truly make a difference in the world.

So look around you. Who is part of your team? Whose voices are you listening to? And when it comes to helping the poor, are you even listening at all? More on that tomorrow.

“If you really want to help, start by organizing a strong group of indigenous leaders.”

“If you really want to help, stop thinking you have all the answers.”

— Rev. James Mwangi, Karogoto Leadership Council