# Proof from those who built first

> Several nations built working institutions before they held power, and those institutions became the state on day one.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/forces/proof-from-those-who-built-first/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## The pattern

The countries below did not wait for power to start serving people. They built first, and the building gave them trust and skills. Each case has its own page in our "How nations started strong" section.

## Ireland, 1919 to 1922

While still under British rule, Ireland's independence movement ran a parallel government.

- **A public bond, the Dáil loan,** was approved on 4 April 1919 for £250,000 and raised £371,849, almost 50% over target. It was sold to ordinary people, not banks, and every subscription got an official receipt. A separate loan in the United States raised £1.1 million ([Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-century-on-the-dail-loan-that-set-the-state-on-road-to-financial-sovereignty-1.3849383)).
- **Its own courts,** set up on 29 June 1920: about 900 parish courts and 77 district courts. Women could be judges ([Dáil Courts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A1il_Courts)).
- In 1924 the new state repaid the bond in full with interest.

## Israel, 1948

Elected community bodies ran schools, welfare and local services for decades before 1948 ([Yishuv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yishuv)). On 12 April 1948, a month early, a People's Administration of 13 ministers was formed. On 14 May it became the provisional government ([Provisional government of Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_government_of_Israel)).

## Finland, 1917

Finland had its own senate from 1809, its own currency from 1860 and a parliament elected by all adults, including women, from 1906. When it declared independence on 6 December 1917, these were already working ([Grand Duchy of Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Finland)).

## Meiji Japan, 1868

Japan hired 2,000 to 3,000 foreign experts on two- to three-year contracts, then replaced them step by step with its own graduates. The scheme ended in 1899 ([Foreign advisors in Meiji Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_government_advisors_in_Meiji_Japan)).

## Rwanda, after 1994

From 2006, district mayors signed performance contracts (imihigo) with targets and measures, and within a few years every level of government did. Community health workers report by text message into one national system ([Exemplars in Global Health](https://www.exemplars.health/topics/primary-health-care/rwanda/pathway-2-how-did-rwanda-foster-a-culture-of-accountability-and-information-use)).

## Movements that served first

- **Solidarity, Poland,** grew into a movement of about 10 million members and helped form a government in 1989 ([Solidarity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity_%28Polish_trade_union%29)).
- **BRAC, Bangladesh,** began as relief work after the 1971 war and grew into one of the world's largest development organisations ([BRAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAC_%28organisation%29)).

## What they share

Each one earned trust by serving before it held office. Each one was paid for, at least partly, by its own people and its diaspora.

## What it means for young Somalis

The proof is that institutions can be built before power, by ordinary people, and that they last.

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