NGOs

Extraordinary journey up the Wadi which is used as a "main" road when it's not got water in it. Made me think about whether we could do something similar with the Calder!
We were on our way to the minister for water's house which is well guarded but gorgeous on the inside. Talked about projects and issues and discovered a fear present in Britain too I guess, that some religious NGOs pretend not to be political but are. Incidentally why don't we have NGOs in Britain? We export them to other places and we certainly have organisations that fit the bill but they are not called NGOs, rather third sector.
The police check situation we encountered this morning was about such an NGO. Some grass roots community development groups pretend to be charity but have hidden political aspirations.
I guess this is where some of the nervousness lies in giving money to faith groups.
I would still contend that partnership provides a corrective on this. When you are visiting and advising how can hidden agendas remain hidden? We're going shopping then up into the mountains tomorrow, God willing, bismallah (I think that is what they say here) or is it enchallan! Tony says its good to use an odd word of their language as it shows respect to their culture and their faith as they learn it through the Koran.