The way we express ourselves and the images we see—especially in an era where the media play a central role in communication—help shape our understanding of the world. Images often become a reflection of our reality as they are perceived as a concrete and functional tool for a better understanding of life. Photography, in particular, both as an artistic expression and as a -supposedly-objective gaze on reality, must be taken into consideration when questioning the images’ influence onto our lives.
Within the world of international cooperation and the work of many NGOs, photography palys and essential role in making campains for fundraising purposes. However, the constant exposure of minors and people living in extreme poverty—often portrayed in pity-inducing photos, where a “white savior” takes center stage in their own narrative, or conversely, images of smiling children captioned with statements like “They are happy despite having nothing”—continues to fuel stereotypes and does nothing to dismantle the white savior complex, the so-called burden of the white man. The supposedly objective nature of photography should not always be interpreted as an impartial or journalistic point of view. The camera lens, much like our own eyes, does not always offer a reliable glimpse of reality, and the messages conveyed through images are just as significant as what we see on the surface.
What Does International Cooperation Have to Do with Photography?
The purpose of this article is to open a conversation between these two worlds, analyzing the needs of one and the premises of the other, while recognizing the importance and sensitivity of both. This discussion aims to encourage reflection that challenges biases.
The world of international cooperation has complex dynamics. A news we shared, which republished an article from INFO Cooperazione titled Can Fundraising in the Cooperation Sector Be Done Without Using Images of Minors?, posed the provocative question to introduce our readers to a new approach to fundraising within NGOs. The article, originally published in March 2022, highlighted the launch of the OverExposed campaign by the UK-based charity Chance for Childhood, which questioned the role of children’s images in fundraising campaigns. OverExposed, in fact, “called for action to raise standards and redefine the way the sector uses children’s images and stories” (Info Cooperazione, 2022). The British charity solidified this stance by deciding not to show children’s faces in its fundraising campaigns.
KISEDET and Gruppo Tanzania, which have always shared the campaign’s vision and prioritized the protection of minors, have since begun removing images of children from their websites and social media pages, especially in sections related to fundraising. This new approach has become central. KISEDET firmly distances itself from any fundraising strategy based on pity or one that fuels misleading stereotypes about Tanzania, Tanzanian children, and African children in general. At the heart of this shift is a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of every child, ensuring the privacy of KISEDET’s young beneficiaries. With this change, KISEDET and Gruppo Tanzania take a step forward toward a more conscientious and ethical model of international cooperation—one that seeks the “delicate balance between informing and respecting the rights of children and adolescents” (CESVI, 2015).
Kipling’s burden of the white man, is based on the idea that white people have an inherent duty to “civilize” nations and people around the world. Viewing and portraying non-white individuals through a lens of pity, reducing them to objects of need, perpetuates a systemic vision that reinforces hierarchical and divisive relationships. It is crucial to remember that the messages we share with the world contribute to shaping our reality and either reinforce or dismantle stereotypes and prejudice. If we do have a duty toward one another, it is the duty to treat every individual with kindness, respect, and tolerance—without distinction, without judgment, without the intention of exporting or altering traditions, but rather with respect and tollerance.
Empowering children with the awareness that they are individuals of value and potential is one of KISEDET’s main goals. Using them as fundraising tools should not and must not be the only way to secure financial support for projects. This clearer and more ethical policy brings challenges: for example, in recent years, the number of sostegni a distanza (child sponsorships) has been declining rapidly. These sponsorships allow children and young people to attend school and provide them with meals and essential goods. The decrease in individual sponsorships has pushed KISEDET to seek funding through alternative initiatives and has also prompted reflection on the future of sponsorship programs.
The process of welcoming, supporting, and reintegrating minors into society is complex, making direct child-to-sponsor pairings increasingly difficult. For this reason, KISEDET and Gruppo Tanzania are now encouraging collective sponsorships, where donors do not support a specific child but rather contribute to KISEDET’s various projects, all of which aim to support and rehabilitate children and young people from the streets or difficult socio-economic situations. Choosing a collective sponsorship makes a tangible difference in supporting the entire KISEDET community, considering the ever-changing nature of the organization’s shelters and drop-in centers. KISEDET serves as a refuge for vulnerable individuals who often lack stability in their lives. Its doors are always open—without discrimination, without exceptions. In line with these values, we believe in a funding system that ensures equal and unconditional support for all vulnerable children and youth.
Being paired with a specific child may feel more emotionally rewarding for a sponsor, as it creates a personal connection. However, creating this relationship can sometimes mean a risk: updates on a specific child might, in some cases, cause a weird dynamic where people are more worried about having confirmation on their charitable giving, than for the child himself/herself. The main goal remains one: to help as many children as possible, whenever they need it most.
The aim is to move away from a model of cooperation where “the end justifies the means.” While it is true that the ultimate goal is what drives the existence of organizations like KISEDET and Gruppo Tanzania, it is equally true that there is an undeniable responsibility to uphold the dignity of every beneficiary—without exception, in full recognition of the equality and immense value of every human being.
Finally, we should always ask ourselves, the next time we find ourselves in a foreign country, “would we behave the same way at home?” “Would it be acceptable to walk up to a mother and to her child, take their photo without permission, to then publish it on social media or for fundraising purposes?” Probably not.