ActionAid's Child Sponsorship Scheme Under Scrutiny as Organisation Seeks to 'Decolonise' its Work.
The UK arm of global charity ActionAid has announced plans to transform its child sponsorship scheme as part of a broader effort to shift from a paternalistic approach to one that prioritises solidarity and partnership with local communities.
Current child sponsorship models allow donors to hand-pick children in poor countries, often relying on images and profiles submitted by the charities themselves. Critics argue this perpetuates racist attitudes, framing Western donors as 'saviours' of impoverished nations.
Co-leadership team members Taahra Ghazi and Hannah Bond believe that this model needs radical change, seeking to dismantle a system rooted in colonial-era thinking. Instead, they aim to empower local communities to shape the direction of aid efforts through partnerships with civil society groups and grassroots organisations.
One key aspect of their vision is phasing out child sponsorship schemes altogether, opting instead for long-term funding that gives those on the ground more control over resource allocation. Furthermore, a new fund will be launched specifically targeting women's rights groups facing increased threats from anti-rights movements globally.
ActionAid UK has faced criticism from independent researcher Themrise Khan, who argues that the practice of marketing mostly African children to Western audiences should cease entirely.
The UK arm of global charity ActionAid has announced plans to transform its child sponsorship scheme as part of a broader effort to shift from a paternalistic approach to one that prioritises solidarity and partnership with local communities.
Current child sponsorship models allow donors to hand-pick children in poor countries, often relying on images and profiles submitted by the charities themselves. Critics argue this perpetuates racist attitudes, framing Western donors as 'saviours' of impoverished nations.
Co-leadership team members Taahra Ghazi and Hannah Bond believe that this model needs radical change, seeking to dismantle a system rooted in colonial-era thinking. Instead, they aim to empower local communities to shape the direction of aid efforts through partnerships with civil society groups and grassroots organisations.
One key aspect of their vision is phasing out child sponsorship schemes altogether, opting instead for long-term funding that gives those on the ground more control over resource allocation. Furthermore, a new fund will be launched specifically targeting women's rights groups facing increased threats from anti-rights movements globally.
ActionAid UK has faced criticism from independent researcher Themrise Khan, who argues that the practice of marketing mostly African children to Western audiences should cease entirely.
it's literally colonialism 2.0 but at least actionaid is tryna shift their approach & empower local communities 2 take control of their own futures 
i'm all 4 a more sustainable funding model tho no more relying on charity to save these kids from themselves 
need 2 get the power back 2 those who know what's best 4 themselves
And what about the people who have benefited from it? Do they just get left behind? 
. It's just another example of how organisations think they can 'fix' everything with a fancy rebranding and some buzzwords like "decolonisation". Newsflash: it's been 50 years since we acknowledged the problems with colonialism, but do people actually learn from history? I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start giving control of aid back to the countries they've been 'helping' for decades? It's all just a load of PR nonsense 
.
They gotta listen to people on the ground and stop treatin' them like they're in a zoo 
ActionAid's tryin to do somethin right, but I'm not sure if phasin out child sponsorship schemes entirely is the way to go - what about all the kids who genuinely need help and are dependant on these programs? Can't they just adapt and be more inclusive instead of scrapin' the whole thing 
. The current child sponsorship model does perpetuate a problematic narrative where Western donors are positioned as saviors, rather than acknowledging the agency and expertise of local communities. Decolonising aid efforts requires more nuanced partnerships that prioritize solidarity over paternalism.
. I'd love to see more evidence-based decision-making in the implementation phase, ensuring that funding allocations are tailored to local needs rather than driven by Western notions of 'best practice'.
. Perhaps this is an opportunity for donors to explore alternative ways of supporting development initiatives that prioritize context-specific solutions over tokenistic charity work?
i mean, think about it - we're essentially paying ppl to take care of these kids, but who's actually listening to the needs and wants of those kids themselves? 
not to mention the racist undertones that come with this model... it's like, hello! 
