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Stereotypes about Africa and myths about our lives.When I moved to the US for college, it only took me a few days to notice that the perception of my life in Rwanda/Africa was completely different from that of many of my American college friends.As soon as I introduced myself, or a few minutes into the conversation, they would ask me.How can we help?Do you have universities there?Do you have animals running around?Some would tell me. “ Oh, you are from Rwanda!? My friends just came back from Nigeria/South Africa to help out.”College kids who were barely getting out of their mom’s basements had something to help Africa too. I could not believe it. I was very ashamed, angry and was in disbelief.Over the years, the perception of Africa from those in the West has come to be one of my pet-peeves. They are not enough strong words ( in the English language) I would use to describe how I hate the ignorance of Americans and Europeans about Africa.What comes to mind when you think about Africa?For many in the West, they think about animals in the jungle, hungry kids, and war and tribal conflicts. I used to be mad about it. Whenever I would get one of these questions. For years, I set out to study where these stereotypes were coming from. Today, I am sharing with you, one of the biggest and most damaging one.Poverty PornThis is a set of images that multinational organizations use to generate sympathy for “hungry” African kids so that they can collect more donation money from you.Picture taken this February 2018 at a gas station bathroom in Munich, Germany.Known also as development porn, famine porn or stereotype porn, poverty porn is any type of media, written or photographed/filmed, which exploits the poor’s condition in order to generate necessary sympathy to increase charitable donations. It is used by many BIG charitable organizations such as Red Cross, UNICEF, OXFAM, and many others.Over the years, I used to call people “ dumb” and “ ignorant” for not knowing the Africa I know. The truth is like any continent, Africa has extreme levels of poverty.But is it the only thing we got? Hell NO.Is it a fair representation of Africa? NO.Is damaging to many African countries’ economies? YES.Can we do something about it? I don’know. Maybe. Many things would have to be changed to correct the damages it has done for over 30–50 years.Is it time to start changing our mindset? Yes. It is long-overdue.Whose responsibility is it to change? You and Me.The problem with these organizations is that they have stepped up their campaigns that you see their ads on TV, billboards, and elsewhere.“ For 20 cents a day, you can help a hungry kid in Africa eat healthy”. Yeah, right?Do you people think for 20 cents, you are going to feed somebody. Really?Even if that were true. How often can you do that? Forever until they grow up?I have done other posts about where that money goes and how it is spent in details, but today, I want to focus on the impacts of stereotypes and how that affects your perceptions.We Africans don’t need your Pity and Sympathy. Keep your Money!The poster is self-explanatory, but I will translate. It reads:“Aktion Deutschland” is a coordinator of many German Charity Organizations. They claim to help people of Africa fighting against hunger. They urge people to DONATE NOW!“Hunger in Africa, donate now or die inside with guilt and shame!” They say.Let me break it down for you.Africa is a continent ( NOT a country).Fifty five countries, 1.2 billion people, and a combined GDP of $ 3.0 Trillion dollars.“Hunger in Africa”The poster bundles all of Africa in one. To them, Africa is Africa. Individuals countries don’t matter at all. The truth is many countries and people in Africa don’t need your sorry ass pity and sympathy.Countries like Mauritius, Botswana, Seychelles, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and many others don’t need your help. They are already rich.Am I saying that there are no poor people there? No. Any country no matter how rich they are, has poor people to some extent. Imagine if I were to go to some Ghetto neighborhoods in Detroit or New York or some lines of homeless people in San Francisco, take some pictures and use them to represent the whole US for my own selfish interests to raise money.Pocket 90% of those funds, shame and humiliate those I am supposed to serve and them give them 10% in pocket change. Repeat the cycle for 30–50 years. This is the best analogy I can come up with but it is nothing different from what these NGOs do. Think about it. It is not rocket-science.What I am saying that if an African country has a GDP per capita (PPP) of $10K-$20K, you are better off helping homeless people in your own country. Or donate to other causes you care about. They are rich and live a comfortable life than many of you.What these NGOs have to do to get you to donate?They have to show you that Africa is “dying” and that your donations will save lives. This is the biggest lie of both 20th and 21st century. Your money never makes it to the those who needs it anyway. So, you are better off keeping it and pay off your student loans, car loans, credit card debts, and whatever loans you got. Their business model is simple. Keep people in poverty and collect donations.I am speaking from personal experiences and have shared my experiences.Confessions of Former Aid Worker. Hard Cold Truths about Big NGOs.You don’t have to be a genius to see how they work and where the money goes. Haiti is a good example how where your money go even when you are helping the poor in emergency situations.Anyway, back to poverty porn.5 Reasons 'Poverty Porn' Empowers The Wrong PersonThese NGOs are big at marketing themselves to you. To get your attention, they use any humiliating images you can think of to get your dollar. How many of you would want their children in a picture like this all over the world? Think about it.They take one picture and they generalize to the whole population and continent.They play with your emotions and can get you very easily. They even use psychologists to make your heart clings in their ads. In some cases, you might even want to donate when you don’t have the money ( i.e. credit cards).For those in need, they are lucky to get 10 cents on the dollar.After seeing multiple pictures or videos, your mind gets the idea that Africa is just one giant country with hungry kids, and animals.When in reality, a big chuck of Africans are living far of a better life than you.5. In the end, you sit down, feel good about yourself that you have helped when in reality you have made things worse. You have only enriched the middle class staff and workers from rich countries at these NGOs ( UN, Oxfam, American Red Cross, you name it). Read more at The dangers of poverty porn.In the meantime, regular Africans pay the heavy price.The moment we want to get a visa to go to a conference, we are screened like we are checking in into a penitentiary.The moment we travel to your country, we are labeled as “ Immigrant”, when in reality, many of us are “ Expats”.Charities want to make an impact. But poverty porn is not the way | Jennifer LentferWherever an African travel, they can be as rich as Aliko Dangote, the richest African businessman with over $ 13 billion of net worth. But they will be assumed to be wanting to extend their stay. At airport, you will be treated like second class citizens with an African passport.The most damage is done by the revenues that Africa misses out from potential tourists and investors. When you think of a place to visit, Africa does not come to mind to many people. Because apparently, we have nothing to offer other than animals.Do we have animals? Yes. You can come see them in national parks on Safari trips and what not.Is that all we got? Nope. We have so much to offer that many of you cannot imagine.As far as tourism, Africa’s beauty and potential is just unmatchable.Affordable places to enjoy your vacations. From the beaches on the coastal sides, to the metropolitan cities, to the Safaris, friendly and amazing people, Africa has what any travelers might be looking for. The pictures don’t do enough justice of Africa’s beauty and potential.Port-Louis, the capital city of Mauritius[2]Cape Town, South AfricaKigali, Rwanda ( my city and country).Photo Credit: Rwanda the Heart of AfricaIn the end, I just want to tell you that if you want to help, come visit if you can afford it. Or save until you can pay a visit. You will help more than you can think.Donating your money to those big NGOs, you are actually preventing African economies to develop their tourism sectors to empowers themselves. Nobody wants to be a beggar for life. We Africans need some dignity and respect. Majority of us don’t need your pity and sympathy.The rich and middle-class Africans and their individual governments can help those at the bottom. It is not your job even if your money were to be used correctly. Help the poor in your countries. You have got plenty of them too!Let’s trade, do business together, and other mutual agreements with dignity and respect. Come visit when you get a chance. Otherwise, stop supporting those NGOs who go to the beaches, fly first class, buy second homes, and enrich themselves with your money. STOP IT!Stop fueling that fire of greed and mediocrity on their ego pot. Just, STOP IT!All-right, my rant is over. But seriously, do some research on your own. I have shared with you my African perspective and left you with many links as a good starting point to look into this industry yourself. Before giving, learn about the organizations you are giving your money to. Do a complete assessment and make a good decision about the impacts of your donations. Oftentimes you will be amazed at the people benefiting from marketing the poverty industry in Africa.If you really want to help, help African’s transform their raw materials. Africa is rich. There are some technical help needed but the method has to be sustainable to make any difference."Africa is poor" they said!Our minerals have revolutionized your countries. Without us, forget about computers, cell-phones, and other luxury items you enjoy today. Without us, forget about chocolates and other sweets. We have work to do, but using your “peanuts” to humiliate us, is just hypocritical and wrong. Keep it to yourself, please!Have some respect and dignity for Africans and our children. We are as human as you.Why Tourism Matters!Africa: Global Hospitality Firm Explains Why It Picked Rwanda in Sub-SaharaOne in five of all new jobs created globally in 2017 attributed to Travel & TourismBotswana, Seychelles and Rwanda rank the least corrupt countries in Africa - The Nerve AfricaZanzibar beach at the shore of Indian Ocean in East-Coast in Tanzania.Victoria Falls at the Zambia and Zimbabwe border in the south part of Africa.For those who want to learn about Africa, the stories and the reality you never get to see in the mainstream media, check this blog out. Africa is BackPatrick Crosset has done a good job documenting what he sees on the continent throughout his travels and work. You will be amazed and learn lots of good stuff.Respect!Didier Champion

We Africans don’t need your pity and sympathy.Stop sponsoring “ poverty porn”. We do not need your donations. Please, keep it to yourself. It makes you feel good, but it does not do good. It has never done any good and will never do good. Your donations make things worse.Famine porn on the display at a bathroom door, right in my face. Whatever you call it, development or poverty porn.Poverty porn should be illegal. It is wrong, unethical and detrimental to Africa’s development. Poverty porn - WikipediaKnown also as development porn, famine porn or stereotype porn, poverty porn is any type of media, written or photographed/filmed, which exploits the poor’s condition in order to generate necessary sympathy to increase charitable donations. It is used by many BIG charitable organizations such as Red Cross, UNICEF, OXFAM, and many others.It does not help the poor. It neglects and disrespects the poor. It strips them off them of their dignity and respect they deserve as human beings. The most shocking part is that the funds collected don’t make it to them. Recent studies show that only less than 20 cents out of every dollar actually makes it to the poor if they are lucky. Majority of the times, they only get 7 cents on the dollar!It is a big business for the mafia organizations who work in the industry. As an African, I am tired of this poverty porn phenomena. I will explain my story below.I took this above picture this February 2018 at a gas station bathroom in Germany.I am going on a road trip to Munich, Germany. On the way, I stopped by a gas station to get coffee and food. I went to the bathroom to take care of my business. As I sat on the toilet, this picture was up in my face, asking me to donate now or die inside with guilt and shame!The poster is self-explanatory, but I will translate. It reads:“Aktion Deutschland” is a coordinator of many German Charity Organizations. They claim to help people of Africa fighting against hunger. They urge people to DONATE NOW!After using the bathroom, I could not believe it. I have seen these type of ads on TV, but never in bathrooms in gas station bathrooms. How low can these MAFIA N.G.Os get?There was about 6-bathrooms. I checked every single door and to my surprise, every door had a similar poster. On my way out, even the restroom entrance door had another big poster.What nobody tells you is that the money you donate to these big NGO’s never makes it to the actual poor. Do you people remember the Earthquake in Haiti?What Does Haiti Have to Show for $13 Billion in Earthquake Aid?These issues are very complex and complicated, but one thing is crystal clear.In their operations, they operate like drug cartels. Big money, political and financial influence, self-regulated, abusing the poor and taking advantage of everybody.Below is another example.Red Cross Built Exactly 6 Homes For Haiti With Nearly Half A Billion Dollars In DonationsThe American Red Cross raised $ 500 million dollars to rebuild 130,000 homes for Haiti people. In the end, 4 years later, it was found that they only manage to build 7 houses only. * Seven fucking make shift houses for $ 500 million dollars*.Where did the money go? Your guess is as good as mine. To the upper-middle class workers and the MAFIA organizations they work for. Flying business class, staying at high-end luxury hotels, big salaries and bonuses, expensive parties in exotic resorts, luxury cars, and any other waste you can think of. They do it all!It is not just the American Red Cross. It is all of them. Their scandals ranges from money laundering, corruption cases, child sex abuse of young girls and women, you name it. In the end, nobody get punished and they keep asking for donations every year.This is a big business. Only those who work in this industry can support it. It has made them rich. This is the most recent case of OXFAM, a British based NGO. Both of these incidences happened in Haiti in the wake of earthquake in 2010.Oxfam sexual abuse scandal is built on the aid industry’s white saviour mentality | Afua HirschIn this other case, Oxfam staff and workers abused young girls and women in Haiti. In times when they were facing difficulties, these criminals took advantage of them. Oxfam was notified but ignored allegations and tried to hide scandals under the rug.Children as young as six were being coerced into sex in exchange for food and necessities, according to a damning report by Save the Children, which called for urgent action including the creation of a global watchdog.Oxfam was told of aid workers raping and sexually exploiting children in Haiti in 2008Let me get back to the previous statement.“Aktion Deutschland” is a coordinator of many German Charity Organizations. They claim to help people of Africa fighting against hunger. They urge people to DONATE NOW!These mafia N.G.Os don’t even allow independent auditors to inspect them. They would rather inspect themselves. They play with people’s hearts and emotions through poverty porn to get your money and to increase their donations.How does it affect Africa and the poor in general?So much is wrong with this poverty porn scenario. But it does not stop there. It goes way beyond what you can imagine. Because of all these images all over the place, people get to the point where all they know about Africa is poverty, hungry kids, jungle and animals.This is why the moment you mention that you are African, people start asking you all sorts of “ dumb” questions. WHY? Because these images present a one sided view of Africa. A negative image of Africa that no potential tourists want to visit and explore.As an African who travels around the continent so aften, I can tell you that the revenues that Africa should be gaining through tourism and investment would be way more than all the donations that these NGOs collect to enrich themselves pretending to help poor Africans.Africa: Global Hospitality Firm Explains Why It Picked Rwanda in Sub-SaharaBeyong stealing your money, stripping off the poor’s dignity and respect as humans, sex abuse scandals, money laundering, corruption, and other petty crimes, these NGO’s are painting an incomplete one-sided story of Africa.There are way more better ways to help the poor. That is to help the poor help themselves. Give them the tools they need to provide for themselves. Do you people think you can feed a “ hungry kid” in Africa until they grow up?If you really want to help the poor, visit and explore their countries.Buy from local women businesses, take that taxi from a local taxi operator, buy locally made crafts, etc. Believe it or not, you will be doing much more than you think. The money they earn through these ventures, they take it home and provide for their families. Taking their kids to school, feeding them and buying clothes for them. The same things you people do to provide for your respective families.The best way to help the poor is to empower them.It is not to treat them like second class human beings. Posting their children pictures all over the place. How do you feel if that was your child? The poor are as human as you are. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.I have so many thoughts to share, especially today. May 25th, the African Day. Many thoughts of what I want to share are summarized in this TED talk. Learn how to truly help and empower the poor through tourism, business and entrepreneurship.The same way, other countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and many others have gotten out of poverty. Who have you seen rose out of poverty by receiving handouts (aka donations)?Debunking common myths and stereotypes about Africa.Please, keep your money.Last but not least, don’t fall for their claims. You are being played. Keep your money. The bigger they are, the more corrupt these organizations get. Their main concern is not to eraducate poverty. Their primary focus is to keep people dirt-poor so that they keep collecting donations.It makes you feel good to donate, but you are not helping. You are being scammed big time. Instead, save your money and come visit if you can.For more information, read more about what the $ 2.5 Trillion ( adjusted to inflation) Dollars aid package has done to Africa since the 1970’s?Heather Stewart: Is aid a $2.3 trillion failure? ( Economist, William Easterly).Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa ( Economist, Dambisa Moyo).A trillion dollars of wasted aid?It has only sustained the middle-class in rich countries and African politicians. It has created the culture of dependency, low-self esteem, corruption, and many other related issues.Alarming! Africa’s Trillions Dollars Sustaining Rich Countries - ( An African perspective).If anybody wants to read more about it, I would suggest 3 books:White Man Burden by William Easterly ( Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest have done so much ill and so little good ( Best book and my favorite).Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo ( Why Aid is not Working and How there is a better way for Africa). ( Short, concise for Econ Buffs).Why Nations Fail ( The origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty) by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. ( Vacation Book when you got time).I briefly worked in this industry. I was suprised and shocked by what I saw.This post is a reflection of what I learned over the years, my experiences of what I saw first hand and still see today. It is a shame and a disgrace!Didier ChampionReferences on Haiti Aid Response ScandalHaiti's earthquake generated a $9bn response – where did the money go? | Vijaya Ramachandran and Julie WalzHaiti Earthquake Aid: Nearly $15 Billion in DonationsSome Testimonials from fellow Quorans with similar experiences. Wherever they work, they are all the same. Africa, Asia, and so on.Abdul Ngoko ( Tanzania, East-Africa)I have worked with these type of organizations on the ground and what you’re saying is true. All the money is spent on expat’s salaries, buying brand new four-by-four vehicles and having fun in general. I’ve never met lazy people like you find in the aid organizations and they are paid really well.Didier Champion ( me, Ghana, West-Africa)What you say is the 100% true! I have seen it all. I say this with pain and shame in my heart. I decided to leave the industry after I discovered what it was all about. I have been to conferences where we were discussing and studying poverty issues with many stakeholders about how to help those who live under the poverty line. Those living on less than $1.25 a day were no where in the room. Their opinions did not even matter.Meanwhile, folks were staying in $500 hotel rooms a night and had $100 per diem in West-Africa. In Accra, Ghana or Lagos, Nigeria, you can get 3-decent meals all day for $20 a day. For two weeks, I observed folks at the top claim to help the poor. But they were really helping themselves. Filling up their pockets.By the time I finished grad school, I was disgusted! I could not see myself work for these hypocrites. I have seen the treatment they get from African governments. They get treated like kings and queens just because of the money they bring to corrupt politicians.I have seen folks go out and get drunk every night and only to come to meetings the next day to sit in meetings and barely staying awake. I have seen it with the World Bank, the UN employees, and others. This industry is so dirty that you won’t stay clean working in it regardless of your intentions. * In a coal mine, you cannot keep your white shirt clean*. It can never be done. It is impossible! After having had enough, I did QUIT! I couldn’t stand them, folks.Jaydeep Vekariya ( India)I remembered in 2013, I had visited meeting of NGO in Delhi (India) for help of African people. Needless to say more than 50% of total donation might have been spend on Event expense itself (resort charges, accommodation, food, liquor etc).Logan Webb ( Liberia, West-Africa)I agree 100%. As a fellow African (Senegal) I dreamed of working in the NGO sector. Until I saw them in full action in the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Of the $1 billion spent, none was allocated to give Liberian front line workers a raise, or to give training/scholarships abroad to build local epidemic control capacity. By the time they brought in the “experts”, we had 5–10x as much case experience as they did. In all, the money was blown on $500–1,000/day consultants, inflated hotels, and endless unproductive meetings. We’ve come to similar conclusions and I also moved to entrepreneurship to develop Africa.

Although many things can be done which doesn't require any extraordinary quality or money and will benefit the world in long term. But, here i want to suggest the people to donate their eyes.What will happen if u donate your eyes? The best answer of this question is that your donation after your death will give brightness to a blind person. U may enlighten someone's eyes.Now, i m going to give some data which will really amaze u. Presently, 37 million people are blind across the globe of which 15 million are from India. Of the 15 million blind people in India, three million, 26% of whom are children, suffer due to corneal disorders. But only 10,000 corneal transplants are being done every year due to the shortage of donated eyes. While the death rate in India is7.48 deaths/1,000 population per year. Means more than 9 million per year. On the other hand, while India needs 2.5 lakh donated eyes every year, the country's 109 eye banks (five in Delhi) manage to collect a maximum of just 25,000 eyes, 30% of which can't be used.So, what is the conclusion?If only 5% of the people who die every year in India will donate their eyes after their death and the eye banks of the country will work properly then no one will left blind in India. If we think same at global level then our population is too much to make colorful world for all the blinds across the globe. Think, no one on this earth will be left blind.Some knowledge about eye donation is really important here:-Facts about eye donationEyes can be donated only after deathEyes must be removed within 4 - 6 hours after deathOnly a Registered Medical Practitioner can remove eyes from a deceased.The eye bank team will remove the eyes from the home of the deceased or from a hospitalEye removal does not delay the funeral since the entire procedure takes 20-30 minutes onlyA small quantity of blood will be drawn to rule out communicable diseasesEye retrieval does not cause disfigurementReligions are for eye donationThe identities of both the donor and the recipient are kept confidentialImportant pointsTo donate eyes, the relatives of the deceased should do the following proceduresClose the eyelids of the deceasedSwitch off the fanRaise the head of the deceased slightly by placing a pillow underneathContact the nearest eye bank as quickly as possible.Give the correct address with specific landmarks and telephone number to enable the eye bank team locate the place easilyIf the death certificate from the physician is available, keep it readyEye donation can be done only with the written consent of the next of kin in the presence of two witnessesSo, come forward and do an act of kindness which costs nothing.Give someone opportunity to see this colorful world.Remark :- please share the post more and more and try to aware the people about eye donation.also, please suggest any edit.