Photo by: chrisrobinson1945

Bednets have often been used in countries with large documented cases of Malaria as a temporary method to reduce cases whilst searching for a large-scale remedy. Although not intended to be use permentantly (the nets need to be replaced every 5 years), they have become a means to provide aid in areas where Malaria is prevalent. The bed nets are embedded with insecticide which ward off mosquitoes.

What most reseach has shown however, is that when these bed nets are provided to the communities for free, they are very seldom used. Many people recieve them from an aid organization, and either sell them to other community members for money, or even use them as fishing nets!

Pride of ownership is to blame for this. People treat things well that they have paid for, because they are proud that they have earned it. Therefore, certain organizations charge minimal amounts of money for these nets, thus ensuring they are put to good use and valued.

This is the general way in which many international aid organization work. I know that the EWB philosophy is most definitely to create pride of ownership in products that we implement, thus we usually try to charge affordable prices for systems such as latrines.

An article written in The Economist in January 2008  discusses the success rate of doing exactly the opposite!

I found it very interesting and I am sure it will spark plenty of debate amongst anyone who often ponders the mechanisms by which we as international organizations and foreigners should try to implement change in the long run in situations such as these.

Happy Reading!