Calling people into the conversation around ethical global engagement
Most of us have experienced it. We see a social media post from an individual, university, or organization that is promoting an experience that runs counter to ethical global engagement and fair trade learning practices. Usually, it creates a visceral reaction and we aren’t always sure what, if anything, we should do to respond. The same situation can be replicated in conversations, meetings, emails, website pages, etc.
How we respond may depend on the context, our relationship with the poster (speaker, writer), and our own positionality. Regardless, our approach can greatly determine our impact. Here are a few things that I consider or do when determining how to respond:
Be vulnerable. Share your own mistakes or things you learned. This helps demonstrate that you are on this learning journey with them. It sets the tone that you are reaching out as a fellow human who wants to get better at this and you can learn together.
Invite them to learn more. Share resources or upcoming webinars/ learning opportunities. Let them know ones you may be attending. Give them the opportunity to come to their own conclusions about ethical engagement.
Decide if a public response or private outreach is more appropriate. In many instances, a public response could put the original poster on the defensive, whereas a private message could allow them to be at the forefront of deciding how to move forward. However, a public response could help educate a wider audience. Consider whether a private response, though, could lead to a public response from the original poster, which would help accomplish both objectives.
Determine if you are in a decision-making role in the situation. Is the practice that runs counter to ethical global engagement guidelines happening at your institution? Do you have a leadership role that would allow you to unilaterally decide to cease that activity immediately? Even if you do, is that the right route to take? If something egregious is happening, you have a responsibility to ensure it does not continue. However, there are different paths to take to reach that goal. If you make decisions in a silo to discontinue certain activities, those activities may very well resume when (if) you leave that institution. But if you engage with people and bring them into the conversation, you can get others on board with ethical engagement practices, which is likely to result in more long-term, sustainable change.
Consider who you are representing in your communications. Are you reaching out as an individual, a member of an organization, or on behalf of your company? Make sure that is clear.
I’d like to share a recent example that I encountered and how I chose to respond. In my job, I received an email related to an insurance question. Within that email, I saw an itinerary for the global program and that itinerary included “volunteering in an orphanage.” I first assessed the situation: I was in my first week in this job; I did not have a personal relationship with the sender; the program itinerary was not the focus of the email, nor did the sender have any role in determining the itinerary; sharing the harms of orphanage volunteering is something that is really important to me. Given these factors, I took the following approach:
I drafted an email to the sender
I shared that I noticed the reference to orphanage volunteering and that it’s a topic about which I’m passionate.
I let her know that I once placed a student as a volunteer in an orphanage abroad and I was so grateful when I learned about the harms of orphanage volunteering (and even orphanages themselves).
I then shared some resources from the CBGL Collaborative and the Better Care Network.
I told her about some specific learning opportunities that were upcoming, such as the Fair Trade Learning Virtual Workshop Series in April.
I offered to chat more about it
I made it clear that I was writing as an individual and not on behalf of my company
Before sending the email, I asked my new boss if it was OK, as I did not want to overstep or jeopardize our relationship with the client. He enthusiastically supported me sending the message. (Yay, for values alignment!)
What was the result? The original sender responded to thank me for the information, to ask if she could share my email with her international education office, and noted that they would try to sign up for one of the webinars I listed.
If we are truly committed to ethical global engagement and fair trade learning, then it’s not an option to do nothing when we see examples of programs that run counter to these principles. Sometimes the most appropriate response is a simple nudge to check out some reasons; other times it may be a more lengthy conversation about institutional values. Each situation is unique and it’s up to you to choose the best route forward.
We are all on this learning journey together, moving towards more just and sustainable global community engaged learning. I invite you to call me into the conversation anytime you think I’ve strayed from this shared goal.
Kelly Brannan Trail has a passion for ethical community engaged global learning and has been fortunate enough to be surrounded by amazing people who have helped her on her journey to learn more. Kelly currently serves on the steering committee for the CBGL Collaborative and holds volunteer positions as co-chair of Diversity Abroad’s Strategy and Leadership community of practice and as a member of the Forum on Education’s Abroad Climate Justice Working Group. Kelly served in various education abroad leadership roles in higher education for nearly 15 years before taking on a new opportunity as Director of Higher Education and Assistance for Allegiant Global Partners.