UXO Laos
By Gina Jeong '25
Can you recall some of basic life skill lessons that your school provided you in your elementary school? During the discussions of scenarios where we see somebody in need of help, we are always taught to offer help by asking ‘may I’ instead of ‘can I’ Why is that so? This is to prioritize the interest of the aid-receiver over the aid-giver. If the action is performed under a reversed interest, unnecessary or even actions that could worsen the recipient’s situation may be performed. Hence, education emphasizes the prevention of unintended consequences by the aid-giver.
The field of humanitarianism is a profession greatly driven by the human capacity for empathy. It is within our nature to desire to help alleviate the suffering of others, when we see others in a sit...