In regards to global development, western mainstream media was oversaturated with images of poverty and despair – a tactic used in an effort to raise money for their causes. As a result, public opinion is filled with negative perceptions and stereotypes about what life is like in the many countries where Mama Hope’s partners live and work. These stereotypes create an ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ divide between people viewing biased media and those pictured in it.

MAMA HOPE’s #StopthePity campaign reached millions of viewers with videos designed to do specifically that. By asking members of partners’ communities which stories they wanted to share with the world, Mama Hope provided a platform for a narrative that, at the time, was extremely rare for global audiences to hear. MAMA HOPE aim was to shift global understanding around the countries in which its partners live and work by sharing inspiring stories of innovation, celebrations and above all, ensuring that the stories are told by the people they’re about.

African Men: Hollywood Stereotypes

The Women of Nyamonge Present: Netball

The #StopthePity campaign ran from 2012-2018 and was very successful. It ran alongside us advocating on the importance of flexible funding, allowing communities to own their futures. And guess what? It worked! Major players now see localization as a key pillar to sustainable development.

MAMA HOPE works towards using our platforms to advocate for voices that have historically been silenced are heard and valued. When members of partner communities are the ones deciding which stories are told and how, the power these narratives hold is firmly in the hands of the people at the heart of them. It is this power that must be fostered and drawn on to shape decisions at all levels of government.

By sharing stories of the strength and achievements of each partner community, MAMA HOPE is working to build human connection across borders and diverse experiences – breaking down the perception of ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ and working against the social exclusion caused by misconceptions and negative stereotypes.

In 2022, our team worked with others under Devex to create a Ethical Storytelling toolkit with an aim to have better conversations around this way of building narratives based on our strong belief that storytelling should move beyond narratives of pity and charity, rejecting the single-story lens and saviorism.

We believe that sustainable change comes through localization and three core components: strengthening systems, increasing visibility, and reducing donor dependency. This is not so easily captured through visuals of smiling children or construction projects, but rather by equipping local organizations, who possess an innate understanding of local dynamics and challenges, making them powerful catalysts in their communities. 

True change happens when we shift focus from short-term aid to sustainable, community-initiated solutions that support proximate leaders to drive their own futures. We are advocating for the sector to fund faceless impact by challenging everyone to look beyond picture-perfect projects and invest in the essential backend work—the systems that allow organizations to grow and thrive for years to come.

At MAMA HOPE, we see webinars as powerful tools for advocacy, connection, and shifting the narrative in global development. In a world increasingly shaped by digital dialogue, our webinars create accessible, inclusive spaces that bring together proximate leaders, donors, impact investors, and peer organizations. Hosting 2–4 webinars annually, we focus on timely conversations that spotlight the work, challenges, and innovations of locally-led organizations—centering voices that are often overlooked but essential to lasting change.

These virtual gatherings are more than events—they are part of our broader mission to build systems, redistribute power, and advocate for ethical, community-driven solutions. From elevating proximate leadership to reimagining funding models, our webinars connect people across continents and perspectives to learn, collaborate, and act. Each session is a step toward a more equitable future—where who you are and what you do matter more than where you’re from or who you know.

More than a Buzzword: What Locally-led Development Truly Means