White Saviorism

 

The White Savior

 

As an association from the global north that strives for cultural exchange, it is important to us to critically engage with the field of the "white savior complex". What is that?

 

"As a rule, white saviors pursue the goal of "giving something back" or "doing something good" with their engagement in countries of the Global South. At first glance, good intentions seem to lie behind this commitment. However, behind this often lies the conscious and unconscious assumption that the origins of the white saviors entitle them to "educate" other people and "save" them from supposed poverty. This belief is based on the (implicit) idea of white superiority and the associated view that countries of the Global North are "developed" and "progressive" and that it is therefore their responsibility to teach people in the Global South progressive thinking and living strategies. Within such processes, the white savior occupies a patronizing position of power. This denies Black people and people of color their own ability to act and expertise about their own life situation."

(Source: https://www.gender-nrw.de/white-saviorism/)

 

So how can cultural exchange succeed? For us as white people from the global north, it means regularly pausing, reflecting, questioning and checking privileges. It means working on an equal footing and based on absolute voluntariness. We help and support where we are asked, where there is a desire to work together, and we do not force ourselves on others. We also do not force our opinions and worldviews on others, but rather listen first. We do not believe that we in the global north are more developed and have the solution for "less developed groups of people". On the contrary, we believe that we need help from the global north just as much. Our projects are therefore not intended as classic "aid projects" in which one party helps the other out of misery. Rather, they are intended as aid projects for all of us, for all of humanity and the planet. Or in other words - We believe that all cultures carry their own treasures, knowledge and wisdom that, by coming together and working together, can contribute to a change towards a greener, more sustainable and more peaceful future.