February 2013 AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner
SAY NO TO PITY
Development should not be funded by overseas aid based on pity Back in December AfriKids’ founder and International Director Georgie Fienberg appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Four Thought arguing that pity alone should not be driving charitable giving. AfriKids believes that development should not be funded by overseas aid based on guilt, shock and pity. Instead, real change should come about by enabling people to help themselves through business and innovation based on respect and reason. As an organisation AfriKids has always sought to share and spread this message and have been encouraged to do so even more by the response to the BBC broadcast. Generally International Development work has come a long way since the 1980s and the principles of empowerment
and sustainability are as firmly embedded in most NGOs’ operations as they are at AfriKids. However Georgie argues that the way development work is portrayed through fundraising campaigns based on pity is stuck in the 80s. Charities are often funding long term solutions to problems while relying on short term imagery to engage with the public. This, in the long run, does nothing but perpetuate pity and donor fatigue whilst failing to give our partners in the developing world their due credit as the drivers of change. On Four Thought Georgie argues that “[Pity] money neither respects nor rewards the work and dedication of local people who work hard in many charities to solve their countries’ challenges. It presents their countrymen and women as victims deserving of your sympathy rather than your respect and admiration”.
Photo-A young girl at a Junior School in Bolgatanga
As fundraisers, and as human beings, we need to appreciate that by simplifying complex situations into shock images and guilt-inducing statements, we are not providing context or respect and leave no room for the innovation and reason that should better justify the support of others. “Sustainability does not mean solving today’s problems. It means ensuring local people can solve their own problems independently of external assistance. If we’re ever going to achieve this, we’re all going to need to take a radically different view to giving.” Georgie Fienberg To listen to the broadcast click here To read Georgie’s argument click here For more information and FAQs click here