Give a man a fish and he has food for a day
Teach a man to fish and he has food for a lifetime..
So goes our general understanding of empowerment.
Those of us who have worked with communities who sorely need to be ‘empowered’ know that all is not as simple as the above statement suggests it might be.
A man might think that he wants to learn to fish, because fishing seems to be a good idea.
He has seen his neighbour bringing home fish.
He has eaten of this fish.
He has envied this fish.
He has desired this fish – but..
Sometimes when it comes down to it…well…
he just doesn’t seem to be able to get it together to go out there,
and…
well…
FISH!
Why?
There are many expert fishing teachers around, who, having given of their all, their finest lines, rods, bait and tackle…
Having given of their time, their energy, their expertise…
Having taken those would be fishermen to the finest harbours, sea vistas and rocky shores…
Having spread their arms wide to the elements, and cast their lines deep….
Having hauled in the largest, flashing tailed, silver scaled beauties…
Having said, “See, see, what lies out there, for you too, in the sea…..”
Walk away.
Disillusioned, saddened, confused, despairing..
Why?
With all this..
that future fisherman,
With all this potential,
With all this goodwill,
that future fisherman,
still waits,
shore bound and indoors.
There is more to the mystery of empowering someone than meets the eye.
Obviously.
And the answer lies somewhere
between the wish and the knowledge and the faith and the confidence and the belief that..
If I can only cast the line…
The fish WILL come.