2023-11-16 10:55:00
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MrBeast claims to have built 100 wells in Africa. But many are not finished yet.
Author: Samuel Burri, Nairobi
“I built a hundred wells in Africa.” This is what the American Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast on the video platform YouTube, says.
Legend: Production on YouTube: “MrBeast” on his journey through Africa. Screenshot Youtube video
The video of his charitable campaign was viewed over 100 million times within a week.
“White savior” in criticism
The video celebrates the most popular Youtuber of the moment. African school children clap and dance for the white man. Ugandan Olivia Alaso from the organization “No white saviors” believes that development aid should no longer look like this today.
The language in the video is derogatory, says Alaso: “Someone from a privileged position comes to a village and says: I know what’s good for you.”
Can we please have Kenyans who can speak?
The affected people from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Cameroon are hardly mentioned. Alaso wants more African voices in the video: “Could we please have Kenyans who can speak?”
Has politics failed?
But not everyone in Kenya believes that Donaldson’s charitable campaign was a failure. The activist Boniface Mwangi, for example, praises the YouTuber, but criticizes Kenya’s political elite: “They have huge budgets for cars and houses, but they are letting the population down.” Clean drinking water is urgently needed in many parts of Kenya.
Who is MrBeast?
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Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast is the person with the most followers on YouTube: over 300 million people follow him on various channels. The 25-year-old American’s videos are usually very elaborate. It often involves games or seemingly dangerous actions. Donaldson has been active on YouTube for twelve years, has an estimated net worth of $500 million, runs a burger chain and sells snacks under his name. In recent years he has also made a name for himself with charitable campaigns.
The Video viewed millions of times of the YouTube millionaire is well done, but is full of half-truths. Donaldson states that the hundred wells would supply half a million people with drinking water. That is hardly realistic, as industry experts confirm.
Legend: This is what the water kiosks look like. But this is not yet in operation. SRF
According to the UN minimum standard, a hand-operated fountain would have to supply 5,000 people with 20 liters each – i.e. donate an average of 100,000 liters of water. In the video, MrBeast shows a fountain that dispenses around 13,500 liters a day, seven times less.
Many wells don’t last long
For the same well, Jimmy Donaldson also promises that the pump will last 30 years. Kenyan water expert James Origa disagrees. «I think MrBeast’s campaign is good. But the challenge is not drilling wells.”
According to Oringa, up to 40 percent of wells built in Africa fail in the first few years because they are poorly maintained or not maintained at all. There is a lack of knowledge or spare parts to maintain the wells.
Not all the fountains are finished yet
After all, according to MrBeast, a hundred new wells are currently providing water in Africa. But demand from three Kenyan subcontractors shows that many wells have not yet been built. Only 25 of 43 wells checked provide water.
After all, the local organizations promise that the remaining wells will soon be put into operation.
MrBeast’s organization might not be reached for comment. Donaldson wrote on the short message service X: “I already know that I will be canceled for this video. But I don’t care.”
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