Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD) Diaspora Volunteers and International Development An Autoethnographic Research Project Solomon Belay Faris (PhD) November 2013 Ottawa, Canada Funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) DIASPORA AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), Ottawa, Canada ©2013 Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), Ottawa, Canada ISBN 978-0-9783113-2-2 Parts of this report may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system as long as the source is properly referenced. Suggested citation: Faris, Solomon B. 2013. Diaspora volunteers and international development: an autoethnographic research report. Ottawa, Canada: Association for Higher Education and Development. Any question regarding this report can be sent to: Temesghen Hailu <
[email protected]> or Solomon B. Faris <
[email protected]> www.aheadonline.org 1 DIASPORA AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Acknowledgements I am deeply grateful to the President and Executive Director of the Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), Temesghen Hailu, who, with diligence and tact, played a fundamental role from initiation to completion of this research. He is a fine symbol of diaspora volunteerism in its fullest sense. Additionally, my appreciation goes to the Board members of AHEAD, particularly to Mrs. Azieb Teferi, who always responded promptly and positively to the many demands of the research. If there is a person who has made a difference in seemingly routine work, it is Ms. Bathseba Belai, whose continued mentoring and support made the research journey much easier.