Hope & Global Humanitarianism: Creating Paths and Building Foundations for Literacy and Education Worldwide by Krishna K.C. has two intertwined stories. One describes almost 40 years of international aid and community development work and the other tells of Krishna K.C.’s personal journey from a rural hill farm in Nepal to a long and successful career working with a number of international non-government organizations in 20 or so countries. 

 

These two story lines are the foundation for the author’s main purpose:  to inspire, inform and guide those who are exploring work in the international community development field. Krishna richly fulfills this purpose. Give this book to anyone interested in working internationally.  

 

Some perspective–book reviewers usually do not refer to authors by their first names. This review is an exception because back in 1982, when Krishna began to work with the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), I was already working in non-formal education with UMN’s Community Development Assistance Project (CDAP). After three years of working together, I watched his plane head off to the Coady Institute in Canada, Krishna’s first international adventure.  

 

This book would benefit from another round of editing to remove some repetition and to highlight particular insights with bulleted lists or charts. But don’t let this critique stop you from taking in the history and wisdom available in Hope & Global Humanitarianism. It is a useful career guide to international work–wherever a person is from and wherever they hope to go. 

 

Of course the times keep changing–new health challenges, internal and external disputes and conflicts plus climate change continually influence global needs and global responses. But what remains the same is the fundamental importance of communication, respect and humbleness whatever the culture in which we live and work. This book honours and models these values. 

 

Reviewed by Kathy Horton 

Education and community development work, retired