Insights from a community builder in India on Effective Altruism in a Third World country
This post will attempt to outlay outcomes of my 1 year worth of observations as a community builder in the Indian city of Kolkata and navigate some ‘desirable developments’ that the EA movement could bring about in the developing or the underdeveloped nations of the world [will use ‘India’ in this context].
Some ideas discussed herein are:
UGAP as a brilliant opportunity for India (alongside economically similar nations) and how it remains untapped
Hindrances of an EA community builder in India
A suggestive way forward
Non-profit work is a great way to approach development in Third World countries, especially in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). People here need more of ‘non-profitism’ than ever before.
As UNDP mentions, development is, fundamentally, about more choice. It is about providing people with opportunities. The question is what kind of opportunities are we talking for a developing nation like India? Ideally one thing strikes out: Career advancement opportunities. Precisely, the more enlightened University students we have, the better tomorrow for a nation.
That’s how I feel the UGAP is a brilliant opportunity! How we can penetrate into these educational hubs (Universities and colleges) dwindling with bright and charged minds and then hopefully channelize their energy towards better opportunities.
But there are some what ifs:
What if these students are not aware of the opportunity cost of not indulging into something like a UGAP?
What if they don’t understand EA at the first place?
What if they might become hugely interested only if they had that ‘incentive’ to come and take a sneak peek at what EA is all about?
In my 1 year of EA community building journey this has been the biggest hindrance. A volunteer recently reported that her college club is not green signaling an intro-talk as “EA is almost dead in India”.
Most Students have “zero clue” of what EA is/could be and there’s a lurking inertia. The sad part- they aren’t interested! Mostly because of subliminal barriers of ‘EA’ not being attractive enough like the foreign pop-culture. My motivation and challenge is to give them that “clue” using some ‘incentive’ that would bring them into an EA room. Once they are inside, it’s again on us, the community builders/group organizers to show them the world of opportunities that awaits.
Interestingly not every University/College here is welcoming enough to bring in any movement oriented talk. Apart from college goers, recently passed graduates are also ‘untapped potential’ that are freshly out of these educational premises.
And so,
How do we show them about EA?
Why will they want to listen about what Effective Altruism has in store for them?
It’s a bit tough here in India for people to get interested as working hours are already more than their counterparts in other countries
College authorities are mostly conservative [can be hard to convince].
Quoting Keerthana Gopalakrishnan from her 2 year old forum post,
The lack of diverse representation in thought leadership from poor countries makes EA as a movement incoherent with the lived realities of the developing world.
Now quoting CEA’s plans for 2021 (could not find any other years’)
Add capacity (via CBGs) to cities with a high number of highly-engaged EAs relative to organizer capacity
Unfortunately, this cannot be applicable in many deserving (in terms of skills which is not subjective) pockets of India where most people unfortunately are still unaware of EA. Let’s break down ‘Highly-engaged EAs’: Simply put ‘Highly-engaged EAs’ as originally people who need something to get ‘engaged’ with first, then become ‘EAs’ in the process and finally emerge as ‘highly-engaged EAs’. I, as a group organiser need mental support (at least) and material assistance to invite people to check out EA community and get ‘engaged’.
Where corporate giants in U.S. today have Indians as their CEO, what Indians can do in the world of Effective Altruism is no joke.
Suggestive Way Forwards:
Here comes an idea for a City Group Organiser Training Program as handy that will focus on every potential city groups and not just highly relevant groups (e.g. of NYC was used by CEA as highly relevant). There are huge number of Tech and Policy workers in my state and the vision is to show them Effective Altruism as a community.
As a city group organiser, once I get support from the ones who are expected to support me in this direction, I get closer to bringing potentially bright EA’s into the greater EA community, working for the overall “doing good better” ideology.
Indians are bright, they just need a point of attraction!
As a global community, we need to decide what these ‘point of attractions’ or ‘incentives’ could be for greater involvement from third world countries, involvement especially in terms of skills and ideas. *Looking for ideas (with no funding as of yet), please comment or reach out!
Ultimately these involved people later become capable in ‘earning to give’ and the community keeps growing.
I’m eager to see an official website for EA India. It’s difficult to know whom to reach out to without this and know how they can help city groups. I was left seen zoned online after reaching out personally to an involved EA in India. Makes one feel judged this way.
Hopeful of seeing some capacity building support from concerned organisations in the EA fraternity. I’ll provide updates on how things move forward! Please feel free to reach out in here or inbox.
Thank you!
Wow Nayanika, great report from a person in the field. I guess the challenge is where are people in their mindsets with altruism...are they interested in it? I’m guessing some people who’s own income has recently gotten better might not yet be thinking about helping others...that is something I’d like to hear more about from you.
Most of the EA movement are in wealthy countries where people already have long traditions of philanthropy, and EA offers a new way of thinking about doing it more effectively. I know in other highly religious communities philanthropy often happens through the religious structures...how does EA fit into that and in the ways young people may be looking for new ways to express themselves socially outside of religion? Could EA ideas influence religious philanthropy?
I have watched India rise over 40 years, and it’s exciting how many are now influential in so many fields globally, and how incomes within India have risen dramatically...it would seem now is an important time to build an effective philanthropic mindset in India, and hope EA Kolkata can be more supported and engaged in conversation with other EA’s to continue pushing forward. Thanks.
ps. Nayanika and I know each other through our EA Anywhere Slack group that meets bi-weekly and has become an informal mini-incubator starting a number of new org’s.
Hey thanks for this! I mean my community is focused on ‘career driven altruism’ and not ‘donation driven altruism’ cause I understand the per capita income in India is highly fragmented and mostly unfavorable. But judicious career decisions can change the scene. Income is directly proportional to Value generation I feel and hence choosing career that are valuable (above conventional ones) can ultimately make Indians ‘earn to give’ ready.
Executive summary: The Effective Altruism (EA) movement faces challenges in engaging students and young professionals in India, but has significant untapped potential that could be realized through targeted community building efforts and incentives.
Key points:
The Undergraduate Priorities Project (UGAP) presents a major opportunity for EA outreach in India, but faces barriers like lack of awareness and interest.
Challenges for EA community builders in India include conservative college authorities, long working hours, and lack of diverse representation from developing countries.
Suggested improvements: Create a City Group Organiser Training Program focused on potential city groups, not just highly relevant ones.
Develop “points of attraction” or incentives to increase involvement from third world countries in terms of skills and ideas.
Establish an official EA India website to facilitate connections and support for local organizers.
Increase capacity building support from EA organizations for community builders in developing countries.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.
SummaryBot hallucinated an acronym! UGAP is the University Group Accelerator Program, not the “Undergraduate Priorities Project.”
Thank you for this!