Measuring Our Success
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One of the fundamental indicators of success of an organization is the
fulfillment of its mission, and AID is no exception. Simply stated our
mission is to support the oppressed and the unfortunate, and in the
process learn from our experience to become responsible global citizens.
So how do we measure the success of such an abstract and holistic mission
statement? I am sure by the indication of an increase in the volunteer
strength, the growth of our coffers and the number of approved projects,
we should be called reasonably successful. Unfortunately, in doing so we
would have missed the very essence of our mission.

The above indicators only point to the success in the philosophy of
checkbook philanthropy, where as our mission is much deeper. This depth
can only be realized from our firm understanding of underlying issues and
their application in a larger context. I find it a little disconcerting
that we spend so much effort in fund raising and devote so little of it in
educating ourselves. In all honesty how many of us can hold a cogent
argument on issues of development, literacy, bureaucracy and poverty. It
would be nearly impossible to do justice to our projects without
understanding the problems they are trying to solve. Programs like
AID-Saathi, seed villages, internships and other forms of non-monetary
support constitute only a miniscule of our expenditure - both in terms of
money and effort. Why barring a handful of chapters - each is following
the same cycle of raising money and showing short-term involvement in
small projects? Why are there so few of us who are willing to take a more
proactive approach towards our mission?

Only these few are shouldering the responsibility of carrying out our
mission in its true sense. These few are the knowledgeable and enlightened
volunteers in AID but they are unable to educate the rest. It is not for
the lack of trying on their part but the lack of motivation on the part of
the rest. Lets hope that the new concepts like study groups will gain
momentum and truly unfold the true potential in each of us. Maybe each
chapter can find a niche and follow it up with a sustained effort over a
long period of time. There is no dearth of ideas and directions, all we
need is to rise above our comfort zones and implement some of them. Only
then we can presume to have taken a major step towards the fulfillment of
our mission statement.

- Nishant