Written from the perspective of someone who grew up as a so-called “AIDS orphan” in Africa, this opinion piece from Al Jazeera describes how Western media has tended to portray orphaned children with pity, rather than with dignity. The article discusses how Western intervention in Africa in response to the AIDS crisis often meant placing children in orphanages, rather than with extended family or communities (as is the more culturally appropriate option). The author also discusses orphanage tourism as the unintended consequence of the direction of aid resources into orphanages. The author urges the West to rethink how to provide aid, to prioritize supporting communities over pouring resources into orphanages, and to consider the voices of the children and communities affected.
