#OverExposed

Our OverExposed campaign urges the development sector to re-think its approach to imagery and ethical storytelling.

The Campaign

Launched in 2022, our #OverExposed challenged traditional thinking in the development sector around ethical use of imagery and storytelling, and urged fellow organisations to re-think how we use the stories of the people that we support.

One of the key changes for us was taking the decision to remove identifiable features of children under 18 from all our imagery, video footage and communications, including in all fundraising campaigns.

See the resources

Resources

Reframe our thinking.
Reshape their future.

This decision has been taken based on the following ethical standpoints of the organisation:

N

We are committed to no longer using any images of children that could be harmful or increase risk to the children we support.

N

We believe it is possible to highlight the needs of children in vulnerable situations through positive, respectful communication practices.

N

We want to move away from the traditional communication practices of the international development community, which can convey African children as faces of campaigns that they may not be able to fully consent to, or understand.

N

We want to address the complex power dynamics that underpin the images and language used to represent the children we support and serve.

N

We want our brand to represent our values: authentic, courageous, critically conscious, collaborative and child-centrered.

WHY #OVEREXPOSED?

Omar doesn’t understand what a multi-channel, segmented, cross platform high-net-worth donor campaign is, so how could he possibly consent to his photo being used in it?

This is why we’ve stopped using identifiable images of children in our brand and campaigns, including in all fundraising materials.

Support the campaign:

Join the movement

“They take pictures of our pain”

“As a Rwandan, my country has instilled in me what it means to have Agaciro, which means dignity. This means that even when I know that my country is not the richest in the world, we can provide the answers to our own challenges.”

Grace Gatera, a mental health advocate living in Kigali shares why the #OverExposed campaign is so important for tackling power imbalances.

Read Grace's Story

I completely support and applaud Chance for Childhood’s decision to remove children’s faces from all fundraising campaigns as part of their OverExposed campaign. For all too long, images of children suffering around the world have been plastered all over the media without any consideration of the long-term damage it causes, or any thought of their rights. Children in Africa deserve the same protections and rights as children in Europe, and this campaign comes not a moment too soon.

– David Lammy, British MP and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs