Kingdom Journalism

What Would You Say?

• Posted by Steve K. on February 29th, 2008 filed in Uncategorized
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Cynthia Innes, SIM Malawi’s communication coordinator, is in Zambia right now, and she posted a wonderful story on her blog yesterday from a visit she made to Mukinge Girls’ Secondary School’s 12th grade history class, where she took this photo:

Cynthia writes,

“What do you mean?” I prodded.

“Well, you know,” said Dorothy, “A lot of people come here and take pictures of our country, and then go back to the other side (read: to North America) and tell everyone we are poor.”

… I wondered how many camera happy visitors had passed by their towns snapping to conclusions without ever stopping to find out what was true – coming away from Africa with descriptions skewed by their ignorant application of irrelevant standards. I know I add to that number.

These girls wanted to know more than what I would say about them. They wanted to know if I understood anything about them. They were asking, “We know people will believe what you say about us. Will you tell them the truth?”

What would you have told these girls?
How do you think Cynthia responded?
Find out on Cynthia’s blog.