The practice of solidarity recognizes that our wellbeing is tied together with that of others. It presupposes engaging in solutions with those in need, not for them. The goal of solidarity is to both alleviate suffering and solve its systemic deep-rooted causes. Conceptually, solidarity links us together across geography, economics, culture, and power. Its framing allows those with more access to resources to truly and deeply support, work with or aid those who don’t. It’s a practice that enables cooperation, power sharing, and approaching questions and solutions together. Providing solidarity can include sharing resources like knowledge, volunteers, material, and monetary aid, as well as raising awareness. Solidarity protects all of those involved because we are acting together, no matter ones’ station in life.
Charity, on the other hand, only addresses symptoms caused by unjust systems; it is just a bandage for deeper societal problems. Through charity, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals allow problems to persist by not acting to address root causes. It’s mere service work that must adhere to, and never challenge, systems of power. There is no togetherness between those serving and those being served in solving underlying issues. Charity is a needed bandage in this world filled with inequalities and suffering, but the charity idea and its methods often perpetuate problems in the long term.
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