Who Wants To Be A Volunteer Africa Doesn't Need?

Rusty Radiator, the group who brought you the hilarious Radi-Aid (Africa For Norway) and Let’s Save Africa – Gone Wrong videos, on November 7 uploaded its new video on YouTube. In the video, titled Who Wants To Be A Volunteer?, we meet Lily, a volunteer who runs around South Africa perpetuating the stereotypes of Africa done by volunteers. She throws packets of rice at Africans who don’t need them, one child is actually eating food when she throws a packet at him, takes pictures with school children, shows untarred roads without the tall building they are next to, etc. Watch the video below.

The video points out through satire that Africans might be complacent in the stereotypical depictions of our continent. Because, we coddle volunteers by boosting their self-esteem even when they show gross ignorance. Hence, Lily winning the grand price even as she incorrectly gives 1 as the number of countries in Africa. Africa is the second largest and populous continent with 54 recognized sovereign states and countries, 9 territories and 2 de facto independent states with very little recognition. So why, give Lily the price and boost her self-esteem? Moriah Lee says it best. She writes on Facebook, “But the volunteers need Africa!”

Global Citizen’s Tom Blake write Africa Doesn’t Need (Dumb) Volunteers article on the background of the video. He offers six reasons why “you really don’t want to be the woman in the video.” He says “When considering whether to volunteer abroad, it’s important to think about what you can bring to the table.” and “I would encourage everyone who has an interest in going abroad to help, to do their homework, assess their personal skills, and determine whether they could be of better use at home as an advocate than on the ground as a volunteer.”

Reaction to Global Citizens post on Facebook