If charity doesn’t work, what does? Join us on Thursday 26th September, as the Wheeler Institute is delighted to host the premiere for the launch of the documentary ‘We Don’t Do Charity’ – a thought-provoking look at aid and development sectors across the world. How can communities in developing countries be supported with equity, voice and co-investment to build a strong and sustainable future for all?
‘We Don’t do Charity’ was shot, directed and edited by David Campbell, scripted and produced by Amanda Campbell, and executive produced and funded by LBS graduate Alan Braithwaite. The film was produced by documentary and creative content studio Republica Media.
After the screening there will be a discussion and Q&A with the director of the documentary, as well as a panel of leading voices in the development sector.
Date: 26th September 2024
Time: 16:30 registrations, 17:00-20:30 BST screening
Location: LT12, North Building, London Business School, 27 Sussex Pl, London NW1 4RG
About the documentary
People are queuing up to point out that the global aid and development system is flawed and tainted with neo-colonial attitudes, sex scandals, racism, corruption and waste. But what is the alternative? Is it time to shift power away from the Global North and back to local people and communities who are capable of mapping out their own futures?
With stories from some of the very poorest areas across Africa and India, this film follows dynamic local communities, organisations and civil societies that are working successfully on shoestring budgets to solve problems of hunger, climate change, violence and illness.
Together with leading campaigners for change from both within and outside of the aid sector, the documentary elevates and amplifies voices from Uganda, Ghana, India, Kenya and Somalia to show that real, sustainable change is possible by ditching the traditional ‘here comes the cavalry/White Saviour’ attitude and replacing it with a more equitable, trusting and effective system of partnership and respect.
The Aid and Development industry cannot continue to be a self-policing, western-controlled sector; tt needs to change. Talking to the founders of Indian NGO Goonj, Anshu and Meenakshi Gupta, they share why partnership, dignity and co-investing are key. And that idea is gathering traction across the globe. Similar stories are common in Ghana, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda, and this film delves into these issues in a range of geographical regions across the developing world.
Ultimately, the film shines a light on how human dignity can be eroded by International agencies, and alternative means of providing aid. This documentary goes in search of stories and examples of how small, nimble, local organisations across the world are, just like Goonj, changing aid and development to bring dignity and self-determination to communities that previously had no agency, no voice and little future.
About the speakers
Alan Braithwaite is a humanitarian, philanthropist and academic, with a Masters in Business Studies from the London Business School as well as a Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management. An active member of Catalyst 2030 and co-chair of its Disasters Group, Alan recently sold his global logistics business and set out to bring new thinking to the aid sector, through the lens of his logistics management expertise. As Executive Producer of ‘We Don’t Do Charity’ Alan was responsible for funding the project, which he has said he wishes to be his legacy.
Dr. John Kitui’s dynamic career has focused on addressing inequality, social justice and global health equity with MSF, Christian Aid, IMA World Health and the Ministry of Health in Kenya. He currently drives Oxfam’s Transforming Business strategy which is committed to ensuring authentic diversification and equitable opportunity across the world.
Arbie Baguios is a humanitarian and development professional and doctoral researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the founder of Aid Reimagined an initiative that advocates for a more just, equitable and effective humanitarian and development aid sector. Through a critical systems thinking approach and by drawing from diverse disciplines (such as philosophy and management), the initiative has a proven track record of facilitating organisational change, producing research, and engaging in advocacy including at a high-level particularly on aid ethics (anti-racism, decolonisation, localisation) and effectiveness from a bottom-up perspective.
Charles Kojo VanDyck has been responsible for steering the West Africa Civil Society Institution (WACSI) into a position of far-reaching influence and systems change transformation. Charles is a globally-respected development practitioner, civil society strengthening specialist, thought leader, and award-winning podcaster whose work is driving transformative change within communities in the majority world.
David Campbell is the Director of We Don’t Do Charity, the second full-length feature documentary he has directed. A former journalist, he also produces the Aid Files social media platform which has been set-up to use storytelling to highlight inequity and offer better ways of helping our fellow humans.