Basic Needs Come First

By Peter Chen

Published on Wednesday, March 1, 2006

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To the Editor,

While I admire Tempest William's initiative in doing work in Rwanda, I question its usefulness ("Tempest Williams speaks on community," Feb. 22). Sure, a community with more color is more aesthetically pleasing. But a war-torn country like Rwanda, whose people suffer from abject poverty, has needs that are more pressing than painted houses. "Kajenga pamoja" might be great, but it doesn't help a person survive -- food, sanitary water and shelter do. I'm sure the people of Rwanda would appreciate help with life's basic necessities more than the painted side of a house.