Lessons from Live Aid
I have recently been home to see family in Ireland and realised I have been observing giving movements for 40 years, since the first Live Aid concert!
Honestly, this is not a story I share when I speak publicly because it is a prickly topic, and I have never shared it before. It wasn't my story to tell, but I think 40 years is a good expiry date. So..
My Uncle is a doctor and was involved in coordinating the humanitarian support that was delivered after the 1985 Live Aid event. Aid was delivered, but the money did not last long due to the tens of millions of people who were starving in Africa. I was gutted when he told me that the money only lasted three days. I still can't believe Live Aid only fed 'some' countries in Africa for three days!
Along with heightened media the aid agencies were also overwhelmed with donations. Most donations were inappropriate and many food goods had expired or were unedible due to the heat. My Uncle told me that his camp was given a.. "soul-crushing amount of lasagna pasta". Yes, my Uncle's region received several containers of lasagna sheets from the west.
My Uncle wanted me to know there are only so many things you can do with lasagna sheets in a drought. He also said it was very hard to look at containers of food people that people cannot eat.
Since then I have been fascinated with well-meaning generous people donating items that are not effective in supporting communities in urgent need. I am now contacted on a regular basis by communities affected by disasters looking for a scalable donation management platform to manage donations that come without warning that impede aid agencies from doing their good work.
Please know my Uncle is a good good man, and did wonderful work in Aid delivery for several decades.. but he still cannot eat pasta.
Juliette Wright
Jun 13, 2025
2 min read
I have recently been home to see family in Ireland and realised I have been observing giving movements for 40 years, since the first Live Aid concert!
Honestly, this is not a story I share when I speak publicly because it is a prickly topic, and I have never shared it before. It wasn't my story to tell, but I think 40 years is a good expiry date. So..
My Uncle is a doctor and was involved in coordinating the humanitarian support that was delivered after the 1985 Live Aid event. Aid was delivered, but the money did not last long due to the tens of millions of people who were starving in Africa. I was gutted when he told me that the money only lasted three days. I still can't believe Live Aid only fed 'some' countries in Africa for three days!
Along with heightened media the aid agencies were also overwhelmed with donations. Most donations were inappropriate and many food goods had expired or were unedible due to the heat. My Uncle told me that his camp was given a.. "soul-crushing amount of lasagna pasta". Yes, my Uncle's region received several containers of lasagna sheets from the west.
My Uncle wanted me to know there are only so many things you can do with lasagna sheets in a drought. He also said it was very hard to look at containers of food people that people cannot eat.
Since then I have been fascinated with well-meaning generous people donating items that are not effective in supporting communities in urgent need. I am now contacted on a regular basis by communities affected by disasters looking for a scalable donation management platform to manage donations that come without warning that impede aid agencies from doing their good work.
Please know my Uncle is a good good man, and did wonderful work in Aid delivery for several decades.. but he still cannot eat pasta.