Challenging Perceptions

Today I want to share some humorous videos that have helped me think more deeply about cross-cultural communication. These videos are part of a campaign called “Radi-Aid,” created by the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ Assistance fund (SAIH). The goal “is to challenge the perceptions around issues of poverty and development, to change the way fundraising campaigns communicate, and to break down dominating stereotypical representations.” The Radi-Aid website has lots of great resources and tips for how we can do a better job communicating in a more ethical way.

This first video turns the “celebrity charity single” on its head. This time, instead of Europe (or America) asking for money to “save Africa,” Africans sing about freezing Norwegians, and ask people to donate heaters.

This next video is a parody of pity-inducing non-profit advertisements.

I really like this next one, too.

It’s not that there aren’t real problems in the world, and it’s not that we can’t or shouldn’t do what we can to help others. But I think these videos remind us of a few important things:

• We shouldn’t assume we know what people need. Partner with organizations and people who have taken the time to learn what a community actually needs, and what will actually be helpful.
• We shouldn’t assume that a people group, a country, or a continent is only ONE thing, or only its problems.
• We should think carefully about the way we tell stories of people who live in other places. Do our stories humanize? Or do they do little beyond inducing pity?

I’ll be sharing more of my favorite videos later, so stay tuned!