Section 2 : Motives
Activity 2.3: Charitable partnerships
Read the following extract about the impact that charitable fundraising may have within a school partnership.
The question of financial aid comes up sooner or later in many partnerships between schools in very different economic circumstances. This can be a difficult issue to manage; while schools may want to express their support for their partners in this way, and their partners may request such help, it can be very difficult for schools receiving financial aid from their partners to collaborate with them as professional equals.
Charitable aims can … undermine the educational aims of a partnership by:
reinforcing – rather than challenging – stereotypes of rich, powerful and independent communities and poor, weak and dependent communities
perpetuating narrow views on poverty and development
hindering critical thinking about underlying injustices and causes of poverty, and so encouraging an acceptance of aid as a long-term solution.
© Oxfam, Building Successful School Partnerships 2007