Insights from a community builder in India on Effective Altruism in a Third World country

This post will attempt to outlay outcomes of my 1 year worth of observations as a community builder in the Indian city of Kolkata and navigate some 'desirable developments' that the EA movement could bring about in the developing or the underdeveloped nations of the world [will use 'India' in this context].

Some ideas discussed herein are:

• UGAP as a brilliant opportunity for India (alongside economically similar nations) and how it remains untapped
• Hindrances of an EA community builder in India
• A suggestive way forward

 Non-profit work is a great way to approach development in Third World countries, especially in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). People here need more of 'non-profitism' than ever before.

As UNDP mentions, development is, fundamentally, about more choice. It is about providing people with opportunities. The question is what kind of opportunities are we talking for a developing nation like India? Ideally one thing strikes out: Career advancement opportunities. Precisely, the more enlightened University students we have, the better tomorrow for a nation.

That's how I feel the UGAP is a brilliant opportunity! How we can penetrate into these educational hubs (Universities and colleges) dwindling with bright and charged minds and then hopefully channelize their energy towards better opportunities. 

But there are some what ifs:

• What if these students are not aware of the opportunity cost of not indulging into something like a UGAP? 
• What if they don't understand EA at the first place?
•  What if they might become hugely interested only if they had that 'incentive' to come and take a  sneak peek at what EA is all about?

 In my  1 year of EA community building journey this has been the biggest hindrance. A volunteer recently reported that her college club is not green signaling an intro-talk as "EA is almost dead in India". 

 Most Students have "zero clue" of what EA is/could be and there's a lurking inertia. The sad part- they aren't interested! Mostly because of subliminal barriers of 'EA' not being attractive enough like the foreign pop-culture. My motivation and challenge is to give them that "clue" using some 'incentive' that would bring them into an EA room. Once they are inside, it's again on us, the community builders/group organizers to show them the world of opportunities that awaits. 

Interestingly not every University/College here is welcoming enough to bring in any movement oriented talk. Apart from college goers, recently passed graduates are also 'untapped potential' that are freshly out of these educational premises.

And so,

•  How do we show them about EA? 
• Why will they want to listen about what Effective Altruism has in store for them? 
• It's a bit tough here in India for people to get interested as working hours are already more than their counterparts in other countries 
•  College authorities are mostly conservative [can be hard to convince].

Quoting Keerthana Gopalakrishnan from her 2 year old forum post,

 The lack of diverse representation in thought leadership from poor countries makes EA as a movement incoherent with the lived realities of the developing world.

Now quoting CEA's  plans for 2021 (could not find any other years')

Add capacity (via CBGs) to cities with a high number of highly-engaged EAs relative to organizer capacity

Unfortunately, this cannot be applicable in many deserving (in terms of skills which is not subjective) pockets of India where most people unfortunately are still unaware of EA.  Let's break down 'Highly-engaged EAs': Simply put 'Highly-engaged EAs' as originally people who need something to get 'engaged' with first, then become 'EAs' in the process and finally emerge as 'highly-engaged EAs'. I, as a group organiser need mental support (at least) and material assistance to invite people to check out EA community and get 'engaged'. 

Where corporate giants in U.S. today have Indians as their CEO, what Indians can do in the world of Effective Altruism is no joke.

Suggestive Way Forwards:

• Here comes an idea for a City Group Organiser Training Program as handy that will focus on every potential city groups and not just highly relevant groups (e.g. of NYC was used by CEA as highly relevant). There are huge number of Tech and Policy workers in my state and the vision is to show them Effective Altruism as a community. 
• As a city group organiser, once I get support from the ones who are expected to support me in this direction, I get closer to bringing potentially bright EA's into the greater EA community, working for the overall "doing good better" ideology. 

Indians are bright, they just need a point of attraction!

• As a global community, we need to decide what these 'point of attractions' or 'incentives' could be for greater involvement from third world countries, involvement especially in terms of skills and ideas. *Looking for ideas (with no funding as of yet), please comment or reach out!

 Ultimately these involved people later become capable in 'earning to give' and the community keeps growing. 

• I'm eager to see an official website for EA India. It's difficult to know whom to reach out to without this and know how they can help city groups. I was left seen zoned online after reaching out personally to an involved EA in India. Makes one feel judged this way.

Hopeful of seeing some capacity building support from concerned organisations in the EA fraternity. I'll provide updates on how things move forward! Please feel free to reach out in here or inbox.

Thank you!