I’ve been volunteering with a local group that helps new immigrants, and lately I keep wondering if our well-meaning efforts are actually respecting people’s right to self-determination. We plan events and programs based on what we think is needed, but I’m starting to feel uneasy about whether we’re really listening or just imposing our own ideas. Has anyone else had that creeping doubt in their activism work?
I'm glad you named it because that creeping doubt is exactly what keeps groups from becoming prescriptive. Self-determination isn't a slogan to check off; it feels personal and often fragile in a volunteer-run space. I felt that tension when we planned a tutoring program and realized our guests wanted more neighborly hangouts. Have you asked them directly what they want, not what we think they need?
From a theory lens, self-determination means listening as ongoing practice, not a one-off survey. Maybe set up co-design sessions, document feedback, and create decision logs that show how input changes the plan. It sounds like you’re wrestling with the tension between resource constraints and respect for agency. The move is to build space for their voices to shape events before you label them 'needed'.
I get the worry, but sometimes people use self-determination to justify not committing to anything. Are we really uplifting voices, or just giving them a louder mic for our calendar?
I used to think self-determination meant letting people decide everything themselves, so I pulled back a lot. Then I realized it's also about us being clear about our own constraints and options, so we can present choices rather than ultimatums. Maybe the issue isn't listening so much as offering a menu they can actually choose from.
Rather than treating the group as a 'client' who needs programs, consider turning the table and becoming a facilitator who helps people articulate what autonomy looks like in their community. Self-determination becomes a process, not a product.
I notice how we frame outreach and what counts as help. If we write invitations in a way that presumes need, we bias the answers. Maybe experiment with listening-only sessions and journaling responses, focusing on language that honors autonomy and self-determination without turning it into a checklist.
I started keeping a loose running log of what people actually vetoed or asked for over six months. It’s messy but it's where self-determination shows up in practice, not theory.