SAI becomes DiA: What is the change about? - Editor

The decision to change names took years of discussion and a decisive weekend at our Annual Future Directions Retreat at Malham Youth Hostel in November 2003.

The name change is motivated by a commitment to engage a wider audience in the UK, in an empowering and approachable way. We may agree that the Millennium Development Goals are imperative, but most people have never heard of the MDGs. In anycase, there is disbelief that global poverty is still a major issue or that we, as individuals can do anything about it.

The lingering issues of global poverty, hunger and illiteracy are buried under terrorism, war in Iraq, CO2 emissions and so much else... Are we disempowered? Apathetic?

There is not much we can do about it. All that is so much bigger than us. Besides, we need to find a job, so that one day we might get a mortgage. None of all that really affects us. We have our own problems, right?

Kya Karenge? (what to do) as they say in Hindi. If we feel hopeless about the future in the UK, what hope is there for our fellow global citizens living in extreme poverty?

If we are to meet the Millenium Development Goals there has to be substaial public support and optimism both in India and the UK that progress is achievable and affordable. We are all interdependent, so investing in development is in everyone’s interests.

There is good news too: While 1/4 India’s population live below the poverty line today, 20 years ago, it was 1/2 the population.

The DiA focus, and the introduction of DiA projects which are undertaken by our volunteers as part of their placements creates an empowering dynamic to explore how the world works, and where we fit in. From the early stages of recruitment and training before departure Volunteers are encouraged and supported through brainstoming sessions to build the challenges that they are confronted with into development education or advocacy resources.

These have taken the shape of videos, posters, presentations, talks research articles and even the recreation of an indian village in a classrrom. DiA is about trying to get the penny to drop out there amongst our own peer group: young people in the UK.