Imagery and White Saviorism in Humanitarian Action

How do images influence our perception of people in the Global South? Which stereotypes and narratives are frequently (unconsciously) reinforced by commonly used images in humanitarian aid communication—and what alternatives are available?

In this interactive workshop, we critically examine the role of visual language in humanitarian aid and development cooperation. Together, we will reflect on colonial continuities and the concept of “white saviorism”, and develop concrete, non-discriminatory alternatives for the visual representation of projects.

The aim is to support organizations in making their communication ethical, dignified, and diversity-sensitive – and thus positioning themselves credibly in a postcolonial context.