NGOs (Non-governmental organisations for the uninitiated)

Everyone in Freetown knows what an NGO is. In the olden days they were known as charities. Freetown has representation from every single person and organisation that wants to do good. Oxfam and here, so are ActionAid, plus what feels like a trillion others! They have white 4x4s and offices in the West part of town. I might be a little sceptical of the benefits they can bring to a place (all theory though, just from reading!) but I never questioned their motives. I assumed it was understood that they are the good guys trying to do the right thing. Since arriving in Freetown though, people have not agreed with that. I’ve mentioned to lots of Salonians that I’ve never seen so many NGOs in one place... and it’s always been responded to with a comment along the lines of ‘well...they’re only here for money’... strange, but there seems to be a feeling that NGO pay and conditions (white 4x4s, breakfast lunch & dinner in fancy restaurants, best apartments in town etc) is the reason for the work rather than actually supporting local people. I obviously don’t believe it, but there’s surely a bit of work to be done by these organisations on improving their image...