American youtuber MrBeast’s Africa well-drilling video sparks debate – Times of India
NEW DELHI: American YouTuber MrBeast‘s recent video, in which he claims to have constructed 100 wells across Africa, has evoked a mixed online response since its release on Saturday.
Kenyan activists and journalists have pointed out that the video highlights the failures of the Kenyan government. MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is concerned that he may face backlash as a result of this reaction.
According to Donaldson, the new wells will provide clean drinking water for around 500,000 people in Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.An associated fundraising campaign to support local water aid organizations had raised over $300,000 by Monday morning.
In a 10-minute video, Donaldson is seen donating supplies to Kenyan schools, including new furniture, soccer balls, computers, whiteboards, and projectors. He also built a bridge to connect a village with local schools and a hospital safely. Additionally, he donated bicycles to a Zimbabwean village to assist children in getting to school.
Well-known activist Boniface Mwangi drew a comparison between Donaldson’s actions and those of the Kenyan government, describing Kenya as a “shameful, horrible country” and a “begging nation governed by millionaires.”
He added on X, “Every five years we give newly elected members of parliament, and senators a Sh5 million car grant ($33,000), fuel those cars every month but we have no money to drill boreholes for our people?”
Freelance journalist Ferdinand Omondi praised Donaldson’s initiatives but expressed embarrassment that a YouTuber had to embark on a charity mission to carry out tasks that should have been accomplished by government taxes long ago.
CNN attempted to contact a Kenyan government spokesperson for a response but had not received one by the time of publication.
Saran Kaba Jones, founder and CEO of FACE Africa, an organization working to improve water infrastructure and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa, told CNN: “I’ve been doing this for 15 years, but we’ve been struggling to continue the work because funding, awareness, and advocacy all take work.”
Additionally, she expressed her frustration by highlighting the sudden attention garnered by a white male figure with a significant platform while acknowledging the nature of the world. She commended Donaldson for emphasizing the need for clean water but stressed the importance of sustainability. The concern lies in whether the wells will remain functional in the years to come, as many wells in the region face issues due to a lack of maintenance and repair infrastructure.
Despite much of the reaction focusing on the Kenyan government’s failures, Donaldson anticipated backlash and claimed he doesn’t care. He is renowned as the most popular individual content creator on YouTube, boasting over 200 million subscribers. His philanthropic efforts, such as sponsoring cataract surgeries for blind individuals and providing prosthetic limbs for amputees, have contributed to his immense success, making him one of Time magazine’s most influential people in 2023.
While some critics have accused him of exploiting vulnerable individuals for views and revenue, Donaldson maintains his commitment to using his platform to help and inspire his audience.
(Via CNN)
Kenyan activists and journalists have pointed out that the video highlights the failures of the Kenyan government. MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is concerned that he may face backlash as a result of this reaction.
According to Donaldson, the new wells will provide clean drinking water for around 500,000 people in Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.An associated fundraising campaign to support local water aid organizations had raised over $300,000 by Monday morning.
In a 10-minute video, Donaldson is seen donating supplies to Kenyan schools, including new furniture, soccer balls, computers, whiteboards, and projectors. He also built a bridge to connect a village with local schools and a hospital safely. Additionally, he donated bicycles to a Zimbabwean village to assist children in getting to school.
Well-known activist Boniface Mwangi drew a comparison between Donaldson’s actions and those of the Kenyan government, describing Kenya as a “shameful, horrible country” and a “begging nation governed by millionaires.”
He added on X, “Every five years we give newly elected members of parliament, and senators a Sh5 million car grant ($33,000), fuel those cars every month but we have no money to drill boreholes for our people?”
Freelance journalist Ferdinand Omondi praised Donaldson’s initiatives but expressed embarrassment that a YouTuber had to embark on a charity mission to carry out tasks that should have been accomplished by government taxes long ago.
CNN attempted to contact a Kenyan government spokesperson for a response but had not received one by the time of publication.
Saran Kaba Jones, founder and CEO of FACE Africa, an organization working to improve water infrastructure and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa, told CNN: “I’ve been doing this for 15 years, but we’ve been struggling to continue the work because funding, awareness, and advocacy all take work.”
Additionally, she expressed her frustration by highlighting the sudden attention garnered by a white male figure with a significant platform while acknowledging the nature of the world. She commended Donaldson for emphasizing the need for clean water but stressed the importance of sustainability. The concern lies in whether the wells will remain functional in the years to come, as many wells in the region face issues due to a lack of maintenance and repair infrastructure.
Despite much of the reaction focusing on the Kenyan government’s failures, Donaldson anticipated backlash and claimed he doesn’t care. He is renowned as the most popular individual content creator on YouTube, boasting over 200 million subscribers. His philanthropic efforts, such as sponsoring cataract surgeries for blind individuals and providing prosthetic limbs for amputees, have contributed to his immense success, making him one of Time magazine’s most influential people in 2023.
While some critics have accused him of exploiting vulnerable individuals for views and revenue, Donaldson maintains his commitment to using his platform to help and inspire his audience.
(Via CNN)
