Chapter 1: Jamaica’S Path to Peace And Love In Society

NGOs are not meant to be long-lasting organizations. They’re not meant to last forever.

—Janilee Abrikian

We in peace education strive to educate for ecological, economic, or other types of sustainability. We write articles and books and talk at conferences and in classes about how we can achieve sustainability not only on a global level, but also on the organizational level. Sustainability formulas have popped up in pamphlets and papers and seem as easy as 2 + 2 = 4; however, small grassroots organizations may beg for a different set of rules—a different formula for success. By their very nature, these organizations spring up in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances, often because of one person’s vision or one community’s needs. The problem is that when these organizations are built around one or two key actors’ vision, motivation, hard work, monetary contribution, dedication, or charisma, they may not be sustainable in the long term because of a lack of foundation or structure to support that original founder’s vision. So even when needs have not been met, a grassroots organization may collapse because of a shortage of funding, personnel, or other critical input.