The larger significance of (Sharon Eng’s) findings has to do with the way in which external donors relate to NGOs in Indonesia and other developing countries… The main providers of that assistance until now have been foreign donors… If they are to be effective in providing assistance, donors need to have a sensitive and nuanced understanding of the NGO world, including its radical as well as moderate elements that this dissertation (provides).
-R. William Liddle, Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University
The title (of her third chapter), “The research journey” reflects the emerging nature of this very complex process which relies very much on participants’ engagement with the development of the method. I congratulate the author. It is not easy to maintain this level of integrity with a participatory process, while maintaining the necessary research rigour.Sharon Eng has achieved this balance extremely well.
-Prof. Jenny Onyx, School of Management, University of Technology Sydney
Sharon Eng’s research resonates with my own findings working with grassroots NGOs in Indonesia, several whom I have found not only are able to survive, but to thrive with very little outside help because they are resourceful, determined and committed to their mission and goals despite setbacks meted out by government, business and politics as usual.” Dr. Lea Jellinek, urban poverty activist and author of The Wheel of Fortune: the history of a poor community in Jakarta (Allen & Unwin, 1991).
The ISTR Young Scholar Dissertation Award honors exceptional work by doctoral students from around the world…for an outstanding dissertation that contributes to the field of comparative study of civil society organizations, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, voluntarism and related issues. This year, at the 2008 Barcelona conference, three outstanding young scholars and their dissertations were honored: Dr. Vanessa Timmer, Dr. Sharon Eng, and Dr. Shawn Flanigan.
(http://www.istr.org/conferences/barcelona/youngscholar_award.htm)