Root Talk: Engagement & Distance

 RFG Root Talk: Elisa & Marie

Protocol: Annika Böttcher

What is it like to work for Root Foundation Germany without ever having been to Rwanda? How does the lack of international and volunteering experience at Root Foundation Rwanda create a different, perhaps enriching perspective? These are the topics Marie Dudek and Elisa Werfel discuss when they meet for a conversation. Marie is a board member of Root Foundation Germany, and Elisa is the association’s graphic designer.

Elisa:

We are two of the few members of Root Foundation Germany who have never been to Rwanda. How did you actually become involved with the organization?

Marie:

Maxi recruited me while I was studying Political Science for my bachelor's degree. On the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic left me with a bit of spare time, and on the other, I wanted to gain experience in an international context. Maxi suggested that I join the organization.

I started out working on the blog, and after about a year he said, “So, how about taking on a little more responsibility?” Joining the team and later becoming part of the board turned out to be a great complement to my studies, and it still is today. What about you?

Elisa:

Like many others, I came to Root Foundation through my brothers. Someone asked whether I could support the organization as a designer, and that’s how it started—with the website and the occasional flyer. At some point, Maxi and I came up with the idea for the magazine so that donors could get a glimpse of the projects in Kigali and learn more about what is actually happening within the organization.

The Root Foundation does so much on the ground that has nothing directly to do with Root Foundation Germany. Collecting all these projects and presenting them in an accessible way is now what I mainly do—and it’s simply my passion.

Marie:

Besides those projects, do you still feel connected to everything else that is happening, or do you mainly see yourself in the role of the designer?

Elisa:

A bit of both. By now, I do feel strongly connected to the organization because, through working with all the content, I’m constantly engaging with the projects—even though I’ve never been to Rwanda and don’t have much direct contact with the individual team members. Still, I feel like part of Root Foundation as a whole, which is actually quite nice. It’s like a small universe of its own.

I think everyone has their own points of connection. I’ve often said to Johannes that we absolutely have to go there someday, just to experience it firsthand. Naturally, everyone who has spent a volunteer year there—or has otherwise been there—has an even stronger connection and a better understanding of the people and everyday life on the ground. But what about you? You’re also part of the organization without, so to speak, any “roots” there.

Marie:

Yes, I do sometimes feel  a difference between me and the people who have been in Rwanda  or who still travel there regularly. Occasionally, I lack an understanding of how certain processes work and who is responsible for what. Of course, I’d also like to visit someday. But at the same time, especially as a board member, I think it’s valuable to maintain a perspective that is not based on being on the ground. A perspective that can serve as a kind of corrective, asking questions like, “Have you considered this?” or even, “This won’t work.” Although I sometimes think I may lean too heavily into that role.

Elisa:

I can imagine that. But perhaps it’s also because the team members who have been involved for a long time question things less often. They may not stop to ask whether certain processes still make sense or why things are done the way they are. In that sense, it’s actually useful that you take part as a kind of corrective.

Marie:

Yes, and I think that applies especially to structural and strategic questions—not necessarily to project work itself, but more to broader objectives. What do we actually want as Root Foundation Germany? Where do we want to go in the future, also in terms of content? As for the major projects we carry out together with Root Foundation Rwanda, they are already subject to a very different kind of external scrutiny because large foundations provide the funding and have structural requirements.

Elisa:

I find it really interesting that you emphasize that, because questioning development cooperation has always been one of the most exciting aspects of Root Foundation Germany. There are certainly a number of areas where there is room for improvement. I think we’ve already published some really strong blog articles on those topics.

The challenge is simply that all of us do this on the side—alongside our studies, master’s theses, or full-time jobs—and as a result, many ideas never get implemented. But I believe there is enormous potential within Root Foundation, not only in fundraising but beyond that as well.

Marie:

Why did you stay involved after your initial design work?

Elisa:

Mainly because of the magazine. In my regular job, I always have a client, and I need to design things according to their vision. I’m never completely free to say, “This is how I want it to look, this is what I think works best, and this is how it will stay.” With the magazine, I was able to sit down and create something that felt like my own. That’s incredibly rewarding. At the same time, seeing everything the team in Kigali is doing and all the inspiring programs being implemented means a lot to me. That’s a major reason why I’ve stayed involved.

I also simply wouldn’t have the time to manage projects, raise funding, and stay involved throughout implementation. The magazine is a project I can realistically handle, one that I genuinely enjoy, and one that has been very well received.

Marie:

That’s really cool, though. On the one hand, you’re contributing something valuable to the organization, but on the other, you’re also able to pursue something you enjoy and that you don’t usually get to do in your professional work. And then to receive positive feedback on top of that—that’s just great on a personal level.

Elisa:

We even received the Bridge It Award for the magazine back in 2020, which today no longer exists

Marie:

Yes, I think sometimes we tend to underestimate what we’ve achieved.

Elisa:

You’re absolutely right. We actually do a tremendous amount and, together with Root Foundation, have accomplished so much. Anyone flipping through the magazines would see that immediately. The publications have grown considerably over the years. Especially when it comes to the projects, you can really tell that things are moving forward.

Marie:

It’s actually a little crazy when you think about the fact that all of this is done on a voluntary basis. There isn’t even a half-time position or someone doing this as an internship at Root Foundation Germany. Especially now, with these large-scale projects. When you stop and think about it—land purchases, house construction...

Elisa:

That’s just how things have always worked for us. Unfortunately, I don’t really have anything to compare it to because I don’t know how other organizations operate. But I do think there are key individuals whose withdrawal would have a significant impact on Root Foundation. That’s why it’s so important that new team members have joined over the years and wanted to get involved. As a result, our group is much more diverse in terms of skills and perspectives than it was in the beginning.

Marie:

I agree. If a team doesn’t renew itself, people eventually burn out. That’s something I think about quite a bit. On the one hand, I enjoy the work, I believe in what we’re doing, it’s valuable for my CV and I develop skills I’ll probably need in my future career. On the other hand, especially through conversations with the other board members, I’ve realized how exhausting it can be when a small number of people carry most of the workload. As the team grows, it becomes much easier to distribute responsibilities.

Elisa:

What are your favorite tasks? Because being on the board is quite different from what I do. I basically have my own little project, whereas you have a much broader overview of everything.

Marie:

I think that is actually my favorite part. I enjoy having a sense of everything that’s happening. Specific projects are interesting too, but at the moment I’m mainly responsible for social media, which is closely connected to the bigger picture. I’m constantly thinking about where to get content from. I love seeing how many things are happening simultaneously and hearing that one person is doing this, another is doing that, and someone else has already gone back to Rwanda again.

As a board, we’ve also tried to share this broader perspective more openly with the rest of the team. We hold open board meetings from time to time, organize team meetings, and generally communicate more about what we’re working on. We’re not necessarily doing more than before—we’re simply trying to make it easier for others to join in. I believe that a sense of community can be a major driver of engagement.

Elisa:

Absolutely. I think it’s great that you’re doing that. I just have to be careful not to contribute too many ideas myself, because it’s fun and we’re a great group, but...

Marie:

...otherwise you’ll end up taking part in a conversation project. (laughs)

I’m also very curious to see how things will change once I finish my studies and start working full-time—just like pretty much everyone else on the board.

Elisa:

Well, then people who are still studying and have a bit more time will have to step in and take over. That’s exactly why finding new active members is so important. And when it comes to personally connecting with interested newcomers, the people who have actually been to Rwanda are naturally in the best position to do that.

Marie:

Definitely. That’s one area where I feel I’m not as effective because I can’t relate in the same way. Do you ever have moments when you think, because of your lack of connection to Rwanda, “I just don’t understand this”?

Elisa:

Yes. A major issue is time management and deadlines. Rwandan time somehow works differently from German time. I think that’s simply a cultural difference. Working on the latest magazine was stressful enough to give me a few more grey hairs again because I already set my deadlines a week earlier than necessary. At some point, I inevitably reach a point of frustration. On the other hand, the people on the ground have an enormous number of responsibilities, and when you put yourself in their shoes, it becomes easier to understand. 

Still, there are moments when I think, “How difficult can it really be?” Yet in the end, it always proves worthwhile. This year I was particularly excited about how many people from Rwanda contributed content. The magazine is simply on another level when we create it together rather than having the entire issue written from the German side. When I finally saw the finished result, I thought: it was worth it after all. Though I have to admit—it’s always a bit exhausting as well.

Marie:

I noticed that too with the magazine. As for board work, I can’t really compare it because this is my first time in the role. My impression is: We haven’t necessarily moved closer to complete independence for Root Foundation Rwanda. Instead, the two organizations have become much more interconnected. There’s a lot of exchange. The magazine itself is, in a way, a product of that closer collaboration.

Elisa:

That’s true. Though I would still like to make the magazine feel lighter and more like an actual magazine. At the moment it’s still very text-heavy, partly because we publish everything in both German and English. Just like many aspects of our organization, there’s definitely still room for growth.

Marie:

That’s actually a perspective that we, because of our outsider position, may be more likely to adopt than others: looking at what Root Foundation Germany could become beyond its collaboration with Root Foundation Rwanda. I often feel that, for many others, Root Foundation Rwanda naturally remains the central focus—which makes sense, because it is the core of the work. But I think we have a bit more freedom to imagine other possibilities.

At the same time, I sometimes wonder: If I were to travel to Rwanda and visit Root Foundation there, how would I experience it? I feel so shaped by the role we occupy here in Germany that I might not experience the fascination—or perhaps even the sense of wonder—that such a trip could bring. The others all went there right after finishing school. You arrive young, rather naive and with few preconceived ideas, and suddenly find yourself in a completely different world. I’ll never have that experience.

Elisa:

You would definitely experience it differently. I completely understand what you mean. I sometimes imagine myself standing there and saying, “Hi, I’m the one who puts together the magazine.” But beyond that, there’s no obvious connection point—you’re really just a visitor. I’ve often thought about what it would feel like to suddenly be there in person.

Marie:

I think I would feel like a stranger.

Elisa:

Definitely.

Marie:

Annika was actually the one who suggested that we talk about this topic. Before that, it had never even occurred to me that it might be a topic worth discussing, because I rarely think about the fact that there’s a difference between me and other members of the organization. The idea that others might find this interesting is fascinating to me.

Elisa:

That’s true. I hadn’t really thought about whether I felt a sense of belonging or whether it made a difference. Of course, someone like Leander has a much stronger connection to Rwanda. Whenever I want to get in touch with the team, it often happens through him because there’s already an established level of trust. Building those kinds of friendships from a distance would be much harder for me. I’d probably write a fairly formal email, and that naturally creates a different basis for collaboration. But as you said earlier, I think both perspectives are incredibly valuable. 

I can also imagine that the organization will always consist of a mix of people who have been to Rwanda and people who simply want to get involved because they care about what we do. Having these different perspectives is important.

Marie:

Absolutely. In my studies, I spend a great deal of time engaging with the very issues we are trying to translate into practical, partnership-based cooperation. From my perspective, though, I often feel that we are still somewhat naïve—for a German organization, and especially for a predominantly white organization. Particularly when it comes to working with Rwanda, which was once a German colony, I think we do far too little to acknowledge that historical context and to develop a deeper awareness of it.

At the same time—and this is one of my own uncertainties—I wonder to what extent a more political perspective, like the one I would like to see, might actually hinder the work of Root Foundation Rwanda. That’s where I really notice how difficult it is for me to assess these questions. I think that’s also why there’s a difference between raising awareness publicly—through social media or our blog, for example—and engaging with these issues internally.

Elisa:

That’s true. The goal has always been, ideally, to make ourselves obsolete—or at least to make our fundraising role unnecessary. But even if that happens, I think it would be nice not to simply close the door and walk away. Instead, we could say: “We still feel there’s a mission we want to continue.”

For example, last year Duniya wanted to visit us in Germany. I was genuinely shocked when I learnt that his visa application had been rejected, especially when I heard the reasons. I remember thinking: How can that be? How can such different standards be applied?

Marie:

Yes, it’s truly absurd. We keep trying to invite our Rwandan partners to Germany. Together, we manage substantial funding, we implement highly professional and large-scale projects, and we are even nominated for awards by the Free State of Saxony. Yet our partner is still unable to enter the country.

Elisa:

Exactly. Duniya occupies a key position within the organization. He is employed, has a regular income, and is deeply rooted in the work. To me, the decision is completely incomprehensible. And honestly, I wasn’t aware that these inequalities still existed to such an extent—that it could be so difficult to obtain a visa for the director of a Rwandan NGO, while German team members like Annika and Leander can travel freely whenever they want. And they’re basically students without much money, if I may put it that way.

Marie:

Yes, but ultimately it’s political. There’s no way around the fact that the work we do is political. Sending money to the Global South to improve structures and opportunities there so that people do not migrate to Europe—that’s considered acceptable by authorities here in Germany. But granting a visa is another matter, because the person might decide to stay. That, yes, that makes me really angry.

Elisa:

I can understand that.

Marie:

And that’s one reason why I hope that, someday, when we have more capacity, we can orient our work more strongly in that direction as well.