Mutual Aid Over Charity

Art For Palestine Prioritizes Mutual Aid Over Charity.
We Invite You To Do the Same.

Author: S. Lyra

Mutual aid is one of the earliest forms of community giving and involves the direct
exchange of food, medicine, funds, or various forms of labor. During a humanitarian crisis or disaster, mutual aid allows people within a community to determine their own needs and fulfill them holistically. This practice is rooted in the belief that outside entities and organizations can have limited perspectives of what is urgently needed or how to best provide services to communities in crisis.

During this accelerating genocide, Art for Palestine prioritizes mutual aid over charity. Many critiques of charity are rooted in the practices of institutions that have not always historically centered the needs of communities. Charity is a form of giving and support that centers the donors’ beliefs, values, and financial capacities, which limits the “givers” understanding of what communities need.

Mutual aid places a small amount of power back in the hands of those who are surviving military bombardment. This act has the potential to strengthen connections and build foundations of mutual understanding between cultures. Mutual aid, as opposed to charity, connects us to a global network of grassroots giving and community care.

Art For Palestine’s goal is to center and value Palestinian voices during this quickly escalating crisis. Mutual aid allows our organization to put our values into practice in the most impactful way. All of our donations go directly to 6 besieged families with whom we are collaborating. These families share their journeys of resilience with us, and we pay that forward by amplifying their voices and empowering our communities to give.

One of Art For Palestine’s most recent mutual aid campaigns funded medical services or a 3 year old girl, Rose, and her family. The process of providing mutual aid began with a review of the family’s complex needs. By creating a pathway for our network (you) to donate directly to her family, Rose received both the medicine and hygienic supplies she needed.

Now, when despair may lure us into inaction, Art for Palestine invites you to act with us for Palestinians like Rose and her family. We are grateful for each and every act of life-sustaining generosity. Whether you engage with our content, send a post to a friend, or kindly offer funding, we see you and we thank you.