The documentary "Good Fortune" outlines the harmful effects of development work in underdeveloped countries, specifically Kenya. The film focuses on two examples in Kenya: the Kenya Slum Upgrading Program (KENSUP) in Kibera and the Dominion Farms' program in Yala Swamp.
KENSUP was a joint program with the Kenyan government and the U.S. government to improve the life of people and their health in Kibera. The first goal of this development program was to relocate the residents in Kibera so they could build houses.
Dominion Farms's goal was to create a commercial rice farm. They believed that Africa needed what the Western world also needed. Using this modernization theory, the Dominion Farms thought the best way to develop the Yala Swamp was to create a commercial rice farm. In their view the rice farm would help alleviate hunger and stimulate the economy. The first step in this process was to flood the surrounding land. …show more content…
However, these criticisms went unheard. This miscommunication and lack of communication is an overarching and overwhelming theme and mistake in harmful development projects. Both KENSUP and Dominion Farms believed that their efforts to develop were better than Kenyan efforts. As a result, the organizations lost the voice of the people. In addition, KENSUP and Dominion Farms were both from the United States, a highly developed country. Both organizations assumed that their form of development in the United States would be just as effective and applicable in Kenya. This is an example of the miscommunication between the organization and the people. The organizations believed that their way was better and did not acknowledge what Kenya specifically
KENSUP was a joint program with the Kenyan government and the U.S. government to improve the life of people and their health in Kibera. The first goal of this development program was to relocate the residents in Kibera so they could build houses.
Dominion Farms's goal was to create a commercial rice farm. They believed that Africa needed what the Western world also needed. Using this modernization theory, the Dominion Farms thought the best way to develop the Yala Swamp was to create a commercial rice farm. In their view the rice farm would help alleviate hunger and stimulate the economy. The first step in this process was to flood the surrounding land. …show more content…
However, these criticisms went unheard. This miscommunication and lack of communication is an overarching and overwhelming theme and mistake in harmful development projects. Both KENSUP and Dominion Farms believed that their efforts to develop were better than Kenyan efforts. As a result, the organizations lost the voice of the people. In addition, KENSUP and Dominion Farms were both from the United States, a highly developed country. Both organizations assumed that their form of development in the United States would be just as effective and applicable in Kenya. This is an example of the miscommunication between the organization and the people. The organizations believed that their way was better and did not acknowledge what Kenya specifically