In our blog “Saviourism is out, Solidarity is in” we explored the idea that international development doesn’t need more saviours. What we rather need is ‘solidarity’. But why does this shift matter? Let’s hear from our changemakers about what solidarity means to them, and how it shapes the way they see change.
For Eddie, the essence of solidarity is community. There is power in uniting people together to promote and expand their capabilities. We all have strengths and weaknesses. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s good. It’s those varied skills and experiences that help us move towards a stronger, more inclusive future where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. In the current system, access and influence often belong to a select few. When one makes decisions for the many, they are bound to get things wrong. It’s inevitable. But solidarity shifts that. It gives the everyday person a seat at the table, a piece of the pie. It’s not some distant, abstract system; it’s the heartbeat of One World Together. Here, people aren’t just beneficiaries — they’re active agents of change. Solidarity is community in action.
Shrestha sees solidarity through a different lens — one she calls radical simplicity. Solidarity is larger than just giving because you have an extra penny to spare, it’s about giving because you believe someone’s struggles are real. Their struggles could be the same as hers or worse. At the end of the day, that’s not the focus. Because we are citizens of a shared globe, we therefore share the joint responsibility of supporting. Even giving £1 a month may not seem like a lot, but that’s exactly when the power of community comes in. This is how you create something large, sustainable and impactful. There is a saying in Hindi, her mother tongue, that translates to “small drops of water eventually come together to make an ocean.” It perfectly encapsulates One World Together’s driving force, the power of solidarity lies with people like you and me. The world does not need any more saviours. We already know where that gets us. A system that doesn’t work. What we need now are more listeners, collaborators and believers in the radical simplicity of solidarity.
Laura adds another powerful layer to this conversation by highlighting that solidarity is not a selfish act. In fact, it is the opposite. It’s selfless. It’s about consciously placing the other person at the centre, removing all prior preconceptions, and choosing to support them in a way that empowers not diminishes. For Laura, Solidarity is empowerment. Where communities are situated at the forefront of their own change and not stuck in systems of dependency. Everything starts from 0, but with collective belief and action, it will grow into something bigger. That’s the power of the masses. Solidarity is a system that does not steal voices or disrespect beliefs, livelihoods and traditions. Instead, it’s the solution. It hands agency back to where it belongs – with the people.
Solidarity is empathy in action. Its Selflessness with purpose. And together this is how we build something better.
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