Faith and Global Development:
Can Helping Hurt?
3:10 PM
We frequently hear stories of suffering in the developing world - from famine to earthquakes to the AIDS epidemic. Many organizations, both faith-based and secular, exist to address these problems, and there are many ways for individuals to be involved. We can donate funds, host awareness events, or even go on missions trips. However, some have called into question the effectiveness of some of these development and aid programs. As we attempt to solve the issues we see is it possible to create even larger problems? As Dr. John Perkins writes in When Helping Hurts, "by focusing on symptoms [of poverty] rather than on the underlying disease, we are often hurting the very people we are trying to help... as followers of Jesus Christ, we simply must do better." What, then, should a Christian do to understand the causes of poverty and fulfill Christ's calling to aid the poor? There are countless needs, both physical and spiritual, in the developing world, and it is a daunting task to address them all. What role does faith play in this effort? In this panel, alumni with experience in international aid and development will consider these questions and share a vision for work that honors Christ and helps those most in need.
Moderator
Rev. Richard R. Crocker, PhD
Chaplain, Dartmouth College
Virginia Rice Kelsey ‘61s Dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation
Richard Crocker is Virginia Rice Kelsey '61s Dean of the Tucker Foundation and College Chaplain. He is a native of Alabama, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a licensed pastoral psychotherapist. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Writing at the college.
Panelists
Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka ’70, TU’71
Former CEO, Opportunity International
Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka is the current president and former CEO of Opportunity International. Born and raised in extreme poverty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Tshibaka came to Dartmouth College in the mid-sixties through the help of a timely scholarship and the hard work of his family. He received a BA in economics and later an MBA from the Tuck School.
Mr. Tshibaka worked for Citibank for 33 years, eventually becoming the Head of Corporate Credit Risk for Emerging Markets at Citigroup, a role in which he oversaw operations in 77 countries. Most recently, Mr. Tshibaka used his international banking success and expertise as the president and CEO of Opportunity International, a microfinance organization motivated by Jesus Christ’s call to serve the poor.
Joyce A. Sackey MD ’85 DMS ’89
Founder, Foundation for African Relief
Joyce A. Sackey, M.D. is Dean for Multicultural Affairs and Global Health and Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Prior to joining TUSM, she was Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an Attending Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Dr. Sackey completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was a Senior Rabkin fellow in the Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School where she completed advanced fellowship training in medical education.
Dr. Sackey has dedicated her time, skills and talent to addressing health care disparities, both locally as well as globally. A leader in global health education, Dr. Sackey has led a number of faculty development and training workshops for physicians and other health professionals. She has additionally mentored numerous students, residents and junior faculty on global health services delivery research and quality improvement projects.
She is co-founder of the Foundation for African Relief (FAR), a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization. The program has made significant contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS through the education and training African physicians in the forefront of providing clinical care to people living with HIV/AIDS. FAR has also helped to expand access to care and early detection of HIV through its Mobile Clinic Initiative in Ghana.
