The Patatas – An Education Solutions Consultancy

Beyond tariffs, trouble and who’s first: How we can build a future that lasts

Beyond tariffs, trouble and who’s first: How we can build a future that lasts

Oh, tariffs. It feels like the whole of April has been about you. 

Since US President Donald Trump declared a 10 percent baseline tax on imports from all countries, Google searches for ‘tariffs’ have spiked dramatically; stock owners all over the world are panicking, and China is not holding back. 

However, tariffs are only the latest measure in the Trump administration’s far-reaching attempts to Make America Great Again. In February, Trump also announced his intention to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been the US Government’s humanitarian arm to bring relief to overseas nations for over 60 years. This action has abruptly halted several disaster relief programmes in Ethiopia, Sudan and other countries that used to rely heavily on USAID funding. 

In these times, one thing’s for sure: no one’s really sure what’s next. 

First things first

But if you’re wondering how everything got to this point, here’s the pithy two-word answer:

America First.

trump
Image source: https://eaworldview.com/2020/04/how-coronavirus-exposed-trumps-america-first-deception/

This motto outlines a philosophy of putting America’s needs before any global affairs, believing that the safety, prosperity and well-being of the American people must be prioritised above those from other nations. Through raising import tariffs, the desired outcome is for consumer focus to move towards purchasing American goods, thus boosting the American economy. 

 

There’s nothing too egregious about this stance in itself – but where it causes disturbance is in a drastic change to America’s stance on foreign aid. For decades, America has sent aid to several underprivileged communities, spending $40 billion a year to provide humanitarian support to more than 60 countries around the world. 

When USAID was first established in the 1960s by President John F. Kennedy, he said: “There is no escaping our obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nations… and our political obligations as the single largest counter to the adversaries of freedom.”

But what about US?

No, not the US – what about everywhere else? Countries all over the world have been sent reeling by this sudden news and are scrambling to figure out how to handle the repercussions. 

More than anything, what people need to survive and thrive in this volatile economy is good education: to amass the knowledge and skills to respond to these changes. But education itself has been affected.

Image Source: https://helpingugandaschools.org/the-projects/
Image Source: https://helpingugandaschools.org/the-projects/

USAID funding used to support the construction of schools in Uganda and provide digital learning tools to schools in remote regions. With the withdrawal of this support, schools are now under-resourced and unable to meet the growing demand for quality education. The tariff imposition is also set to escalate the costs of school maintenance and operational budgets. Educational technology takes a hit as well due to tariffs on electronics, creating limitations on the availability of digital learning. 

Building a society that lasts

However, amidst this difficult season, there are still individuals and organisations who are choosing to rally for the better of others. Though the current economic season may have been an unexpected blow, there are many who continue to act out of love and concern to those hit even harder.

The missionary Millard Fuller said, “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.” Grounded in this philosophy, he went on to found the leading global non-profit Habitat for Humanity, which has supported millions of people to build and improve homes. Till today, the organisation relies heavily on volunteer work and goodwill donations to make an impact, a testament to the prevailing love and concern that people have for others they may not even know. 

Image source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/business/mackenzie-scott-habitat-for-humanity.html
Image source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/business/mackenzie-scott-habitat-for-humanity.html

In a world where every man fights for himself first, philanthropists like Fuller may stick out like a sore thumb. The very phrase “non-profit organisation” may feel like an oxymoron, and an illogical business model doomed from the onset. But with more than 10 million non-profit organisations established worldwide, there has to be a reason why so many people continue to work towards the good of others, and not just themselves. 

The Global Donors Forum (GDF) has recognised and addressed the implications of the new tariffs, highlighting the potential for increased living costs and trade tensions. They stress the role of NGOs in responding to such challenges; instead of avoiding the situation, they are doubling down to advocate for strategies that support affected communities and promote resilience in the face of economic disruptions.  

At the Patatas, we remain committed to our vision of unlocking students’ potential in rural and underprivileged communities. We hope that individuals and organisations will continue to partner with us to bridge the digital divide in education and raise up students who are rooted in values of community care and generosity, who will go on to make a difference to their society. We understand the importance of education in moulding the minds of future generations and believe that it is the key to creating a better world.

Politicians, administrations and policies will always come and go. What matters is what we choose to do for what we believe in, undeterred by whatever is going on in the world. The individual must continue to rise up and keep looking for others who share the same vision.

If you are keen to sowing into a world that looks out for all its citizens, regardless of opportunity or country, why not consider a partnership with us today? 



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