News & Reviews

Review of Keeping Africa Small - Laura Gisby

Comments from Coulsdon College screening

"It's interesting to see poverty in Africa, from the African’s perspective and that they do not want be pitied."

Kai Francis, Student

"A very interesting film that showed a different view of poverty in Africa. I enjoyed the way it didn’t show the typical sights of poverty in Africa and shared individual stories about what they really want/need."

Tanika Facey, Student

"Very broad and up front, provides a bold message. Does not show examples of extreme poverty cases, which make it differ from most campaigns seen on TV."

Eve Livesley, Student

The debate on ethical gifts

Some fantastic articles are already joining the debate around so-called "ethical gifts": please read Natalie Rothschild's Spiked essay It's time to unwrap 'Oxfam Unwrapped' and Stephanie Busari's BBC News article Do goats make great gifts?

 

More4 TV News held a live debate on ethical gifts between Ceri Dingle, WORLDwrite's Director, and Sarah Wilson, Christian Aid. Watch it now below.

 

Comments from the London premiere

"From title to production up to the end it is a super production without any drama, as the factual production has its own drama and brought the message into focus."

Councillor Faizullah Khan, Speaker of LB Hackney

 

"Finally, a fresh and true reflection of so-called 'development'... The only question left is what do I say to Grandma when I open the envelope to see that 'I' have donated a goat? I think I will just show the DVDs."

Grace Devlin, Teacher/Researcher, University of Oxford

 

"The movie is invaluable for its critique of the mainstream approach to development. Small-scale solutions are clearly not a way to development, and there is a clear lack of accountability on the part of Western organisations. There is an urgent need to increase awareness of the effects of development projects carried out by development organisations, so all those who support them become more critical of their activities."

Ewa Religa, Student, LSE

 

"Very informative. I learnt something new with regards to what the aid charity organisations are handing out. I did not know it was aimed only at the basic standard of living."

Alison Francis, Administrator

 

"Overall very good. Definitely discussed what many people are thinking but perhaps too scared to say."

Osayuki Omo-Uwamere, Student

 

"This was insightful. Although it's good that NGOs are going to Ghana at all, it did concern me that they were not really listening to what the people really wanted or needed, and instead more effort was made to keep people at basic levels rather than helping them out of their situation."

Irene A, Student

 

"I have never encountered this perspective before; your film was stimulating and inspiring. The most salient aspect for me was the highlighting of the limited thinking applied by NGOs which feeds into the potentially harmful assumptions about development."

Jennifer Wills, Trainee Psychologist

De Roy Kwesi Andrew (Teacher and Student, Accra, Ghana) speaks on NGOs and development

Pragmatic steps in terms of large-scale investment in infrastructure, financial and technological resources are needed to drive forward our development. However, the West and their NGOs neglect these concerns and instead continue to turn Ghana and Africa into a classroom for their theories, principles and concepts on good governance, population control, female genital mutilation, HIV/AIDS and so on. Our people and government have become merely the passive, obedient pupils to be preached to. That is not what we need! Gives us the chance for material and economic prosperity on our own terms and we shall deal decisively with these things ourselves.