Why Development is So Difficult

While in Pallisa last weekend, I came across what was once the Pallisa Town Council Public Library. I'm told it was built a couple of years ago by a Peace Corps volunteer. It was stocked with plenty of books, computers, and other equipment.

Today, the library is closed. No one knows why. I asked a few people that worked around the area why it had closed. Know one came up with a reason that was either clear or sufficient enough to justify why the library was currently not operating. The closest thing resembling a decent answer was that the power system had been destroyed, but they didn't know how or why. A library can still provide many benefits even in the absence of power, so I considered this excuse to be insufficient.

This is a universal struggle with development efforts. To build something, while a great deed, is not good enough. For it to be successful, it must be able to endure and sustain itself even after it's creator long departs. It requires the community to be emotionally, physically, and preferably monetarily invested in the project to give them some incentive to see it through and maintain whatever result they gain from their investment. I'm sure this library was great when it was opened, but somewhere along the way some line was severed and that was it, the sustainability failed and you end up with a useless pile of bricks. So I may try to reopen this thing, who knows, if I can find someone who cares enough to keep it open once I'm gone. People here need books and information, I just don't understand.