David Lammy/Stacey Dooley

It is a cliched image. And it tends to go along with the gap yah thing where hugely privileged children go out to paint a school - paying £2000 or so and (a) depriving competent local people of a job (b) giving gap year companies rather too much money that could have gone locally.

I also agree that many governments in Africa spend too much money on themselves and vanity projects, but that's not unlike the EU. Ditto the poor supervision of expenditure and the abuse of income.

However I do think helping with theories and research helps - including funding agricultural research and helping out on a micro level. A number of African universities and financiers have been looking at this for decades. And raising environmental concerns.

But the Chinese are already doing most of the huge infrastructure development in Africa - the quid pro quo being mineral rights.

Lily, a woman holding a child, he saw a white woman holding a black child

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Comic Relief does do "follow up programs" showing were and how the donated money is used.

We are damned if we provide aid and castigated if we do nothing - no pleasing some folks.

I think his comment was racist. I doubt the street children who have been rescued gives a fig about the colour of skin.

Large sums of money is raised ,and this is what matters

How would Third World countries manage if we withdrew all aid? It is because we in the west are so caring and generous, that these countries have become dependant on western charities. Their governments know that we will take care of their poor, so they don't need to bother themselves, and can spend their money on themselves. It is a fact, though, that those who are truly caring, help without drawing attention to themselves. Celebs posing with starving children could be regarded as doing so for their own glorification.

Oh dear Joelsnan, what on earth do you mean? Have you ever heard of the scramble for Africa? Of course a black person can and should be challenged.

The history is very important here.

We can all work together as human beings and this is the image I would like to see put out there.

David Lammy’s comments always irritate the hell out of me.

If he’s on tv I try to press mute on the remote if I’m nearest.

Annie, no of course not. He was referring to the image. The solo black child, finger in mouth in the arms of the hite benefactor. Its controversial stuff but I see his point.

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In what way is it racist GG13? I see his point, its a cliche image. I don't doubt her intentions are good but it would have been nice to perhaps see people working side by side.

Of course nobody forces us to watch a programme and we can avoid it. I haven't watched it in years. The format makes me cringe. I would love some follow up information, the bigger picture and the longer view.

I listened to David Lammy, and in my humble opinion he came over as a racist.

Comic Relief funds hospitals, schools, clean water projects, vaccination programs and provides livestock and seeds to help people to help themselves.

If you do not like the program you are not forced to watch. If by going out to Africa and being photographed with African children Stacey Dooley and other well known faces can help to raise money good on them.

Hadn’t heard about this.

So David Lammy claims ‘ the world doesn’t need any more
White saviours’

Does he want all white people pulled out of schools, hospitals etc in countries where the majority are not white.

EllanVannin. The people working on development projects might not be there without money raised by such means as Red Nose Day.

Year on year, it is the same format. Is there to be no end to the need to fund raise in this way? I am willing to donate but I no longer watch these programmes.

The people who are never filmed are the ones working with the peoples of these deprived areas. Unsung and forgotten heroes and heroines.

I agree with him too. It's all done for their own self-satisfaction which I find so false.