We all have at least one of these people on our Facebook friends list. First come the solicitations for donations so that they can travel to Haiti or Africa or Guatemala to build houses or bring supplies. Then come the photos. Oh, the photos. It is your white friend or cousin or old classmate smiling broadly as they are surrounded by considerably darker, considerably worse-dressed children. More often than not, you’re treated to a lengthy caption about the life-changing experience and how blessed the person was to see the kids smiling. That person posted the photo from the comfort of their home or the airport because they got to leave after electing to spend a week or so seeing how the other half lives.

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This is referred to as the “white savior complex” and you should definitely read up on it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with volunteering, helping others out, and truly caring, but the element of overshare always comes across as disingenuous and believing that Africa is a place that needs Western intervention points to a twisted,

self-centered global ideology. Posting a bunch of photos that highlight the clear juxtaposition in class between oneself and the people being helped doesn’t do a lot of good; it is just a way of asking for validation, asking to be branded the #1 Good Person. Those types of photos always beg the question, “So, why did you really go all the way to Micronesia over spring break?”

That question is now being answered in a very unique way: Using Barbies. An Instagram account called @BarbieSavior has popped up recently and is making waves for its realistic depiction of the complex using dolls as fake as some people’s intentions.

Who needs a formal education to teach in Africa? Not me! All I need is some chalk and a dose of optimism. It’s so sad that they don’t have enough trained teachers here. I’m not trained either, but I’m from the West, so it all works out. Good morning, class!! #barbiesaviortheeducator #wildwildwest #theyteachmemorethaniteachthem #whichmakessensecuzicantteach #PhDindelusionalthoughtprocesses #degreesplease #qualifiedisnotafeeling #godstillQUALIFIESthecalled #gettingschooledandoverruled

A photo posted by Barbie Savior (@barbiesavior) on Apr 16, 2016 at 11:29am PDT

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the fly covered African child, to me: I lift my face to the sky to usher them home into my arms. #maybeonedaytheywillmakeastatueofme #saviorstatue #libertylovin #humblehugs #theagilityofhumility #imonlyone #buticanhugmany #letthelittlechildrencometome #justlikejesus #greatwhitehope

#hugsforhumanityA photo posted by Barbie Savior (@barbiesavior) on Apr 11, 2016 at 11:36am PDT

Huffington Post found out that the two owners of the account are former “White Saviors” by their own admission. Though they chose to remain anonymous, they did tell HuffPo this:

We were never as “savioresque” as Barbie Savior, but we did things back in our White Savior days that we regret … It really just started as a joke between us, a way to get some of these things off of our chest. Its hard to pinpoint the irony at times in real life… the wildly self-centered person veiled as the self-sacrificing saint … The attitude that Africa needs to be saved from itself, by Westerners, can be traced back to colonialism and slavery. It’s such a simplified way to view an entire continent.”

As the sweat beads off my brow and my fever swells, I can think of little else but the pain and the caption needed to express this moment on my Instagram. I have access to medicine, yes, but I won’t take it. So many don’t have it, so why should I? I am nothing more than the average…. #malariaempathy #gonativeorgohome #suffering4solidarity #itwormsmyheart #plasmodiumpandemonium #notreatment #cerebralmalariaorbust #insaneinthemembrane #epitomeofirony #millenialmalaria #itmakessensebecauseiwantitto

A photo posted by Barbie Savior (@barbiesavior) on Apr 2, 2016 at 6:56am PDT

Orphans take the BEST pictures! So. Cute. #whatsyournameagain #orphans #wheredemorphansat #kingdomcome #blackbabiesarethecutest

#strangers2secondsago #attachmentproblemsarentcute #notazooA photo posted by Barbie Savior (@barbiesavior) on Mar 29, 2016 at 9:02am PDT

Again, volunteering is incredible and selfless and should be encouraged at every turn, but self-awareness is key in avoiding offensive missteps and perpetuating antiquated, harmful colonial standards.

[image via screengrab]

For more from Lindsey, follow her on Twitter.

Tags: Africa, Instagram, mission