▹ End of Chapter: Racism in Humanitarian Aid
This video
Watch the video of Sara where she asks to go through the below last bullet points and reflection questions for the humanitarian aid section.
Racism in the humanitarian aid sector
The humanitarian sector, like society as a whole, is deeply affected by racism. A 2021 report by Peace Direct and partners outlines how colonial patterns and racist structures continue to influence the global aid system.
Key findings from the report (adapted to Europe’s external borders):
Colonial attitudes persist
The aid system still reflects colonial practices. Donation campaigns often reproduce white saviour narratives and racist depictions.
Who controls the money?
Funding decisions are made largely in the Global North, not by those who are meant to benefit.
Structural racism
Organisations from the Global North receive more legitimacy, visibility, and resources than organisations from the Global South, whose expertise is often undervalued.
Harmful terminology
The sector frequently uses terms that reinforce discriminatory, racialised perceptions.
“Neutrality” is not neutral
What is framed as “neutral” often reflects a white, Western perspective — reinforcing the white saviour mindset.
Western knowledge dominance
Aid programs often demand adaptation to Western values and frameworks, devaluing other forms of knowledge.
Lack of intersectionality
Aid projects often address only one identity dimension and ignore overlapping forms of discrimination — e.g. sexuality, disability, class, gender, citizenship, religion.
“Racism in the humanitarian sector is not an error — it is a legacy. And legacies must be examined, challenged, and unlearned.”
▶How does this relate to volunteering at Europe’s borders?
Questions to reflect on
Here are some questions to carry with you as you reflect:
- Where do my ideas about “helping” come from?
- Do I unintentionally adopt a “saviour” mindset (e.g., thinking I can change the world or save lives)?
- Whose voices are centered — volunteers or people directly affected — and why? Who truly represents the organization?
- Is the organization I am involved in (or want to join) transparent about its finances and resource management?
Sources & Further Reading
- Peace Direct (2021): Time to Decolonise Aid
- BrückenWind (2021): Why voluntary support work at the external borders is necessary and political
- Fleischmann & Steinhilper (2017): The Myth of Apolitical Volunteering
- Medico International (2023): Decolonizing Aid
- glokal e.V.: Welcome Without Paternalism
