Hopp til hovedinnhold

SAIH

News

«Do they know it`s Christmas» wins prize as this year's worst fundraising ad

«Do they know it`s Christmas» wins prize as this year's worst fundraising ad«Do they know it`s Christmas» wins prize as this year's worst fundraising ad

Tuesday night, this year's worst and best fundraising videos were announced at the official ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Behind the infamous Radiator Awards, is the solidarity and aid organization, SAIH (The Students` and Academics` International Assistance Fund).

«Do they know it`s Christmas» was the obvious winner of this year's least honorable prize, the Rusty Radiator. The video staring Bob Geldof, Bono, One Direction, Sinead O'Connor, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith and Coldplay's Chris Martin received massive criticism, from all over the world, the day it was released.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and this is also the case when it comes to the song «Do They Know It's Christmas, Special Ebola Edition». The music video is condescending, incorrect and long due its expiration date. Bob Geldof and his celebrity friends portray Africa as a doomed continent, a lost case without their saviors from the West. This is a musical performance of the white man's burden. Pathetic and harmful at best, says Martine Jahre, Vice President of SAIH.

White Helmets, Syria won the award for this year's best fundraising video. The Vice President of SAIH says «The Heroes And the Miracle Baby», succeeds where the media continues to fail us.

The media is booming with stories and pictures of helpless Syrian refugees. This film represent a different story. It shows you Syrians, risking their lives on a daily basis, in order to save their fellowmen. Not least, it shows that you can tell a strong and graphic story without using stereotypical pictures. In this video, the donors are not the number one priority; instead, they choose to be true to the issue, says Vice President of SAIH, Martine Jahre.

This is the third time the Norwegian NGO, SAIH (The Students and Academics' International Assistance Fund) organize the Radiator Awards in Oslo. In previous years, the organization has had huge international success with their satirical videos on aid communication, such as "Radi-Aid: Africa for Norway" that went viral in 2012.

The organization is tired of old-fashioned and damaging fundraising campaigns that every year see the light of day. The hope is that the awards will challenge the use of stereotypes in the aid organizations' fundraising work, and help change the way organizations are communicating about complex issues such as international development.

We want to change the way in which the aid industry is communicating about development and poverty and see an end to the harmful use of stereotypical storytelling in aid communication, says Martine Jahre, Vice President of SAIH.

News that engage in the fight for educational justice

A light green watercolor map of Zambia with the text "solidarity with the students in Zambia."A light green watercolor map of Zambia with the text "solidarity with the students in Zambia."

News

SAIH expresses solidarity with students in Zambia

SAIH expresses its solidarity with the Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) and the 74 students from Kapasa Makasa University who were arrested after a peaceful protest against new rules for the classification of degrees. The arrests represent a serious attack on students’ right to protest and on academic freedom.

Read article
Four smiling young women wearing t-shirts that read "SAIH Utdanning for frigjoring."Four smiling young women wearing t-shirts that read "SAIH Utdanning for frigjoring."

News

Join the Working Group for SAIH Conference 2026

Do you want to help shape SAIH’s biggest event of the year? We are looking for creative and committed students and academics who want to join the working group for SAIH Conference 2026! The conference is set for Fall 2026.

Read article
Person from behind, wearing a bandana and denim jacket, holding a megaphone and raising a fist.Person from behind, wearing a bandana and denim jacket, holding a megaphone and raising a fist.

News

Join SAIH’s Working Group on Decolonization

Are you a student, academic, or activist interested in decolonization? Join SAIH’s new working group and help shape how we approach this important issue—both within the organization and together with our partners.

Read article
a group of people are posing for a picture on a rooftop .a group of people are posing for a picture on a rooftop .

News

Call for applications: Youth exchange against anti-rights

SAIH is looking to recruit two early-career researchers, with a genuine interest in social justice to join a one-year international exchange project focused on countering anti-rights forces impacting historically marginalised communities in different contexts. Application deadline: 19 September.

Read article
a group of people are standing in a circle talking to each other .a group of people are standing in a circle talking to each other .

News

Welcome to SAIH's fall gathering 2025

From September 19th to 21st, it’s finally time for SAIH’s Fall Gathering. Don't forget to register by September 7!

Read article
a large mural on the side of a building that says `` knowledge is power '' .a large mural on the side of a building that says `` knowledge is power '' .

News

Oslo’s largest mural unveiled: a monument to art, struggle and community

In the heart of the capital, at Christian Krohgs gate 39/41, a new work of art now spans 590 square meters. Earlier this summer, Oslo’s largest mural was officially unveiled – a project that brings together street art, political engagement and global solidarity.

Read article

Get involved

Discover how you can contribute to SAIH's work.

Stay up to date – sign up for our newsletter

En person med munnbind og solbriller. Basert på bakgrunnen skjønner vi at denne personen deltar i en demostrasjonEn person med munnbind og solbriller. Basert på bakgrunnen skjønner vi at denne personen deltar i en demostrasjon
En person som prater inn i en megafonEn person som prater inn i en megafon