East Africa safari…donating clothes and toys along the way?
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Anonymous
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My cousin and I are headed to Kenya and Tanzania this summer for a safari trip to a few of the parks there - masai Mara, Serengeti, Lake Nakuru. I would like to pack an extra suitcase full of my children’s outgrown clothes and toys to donate to local children and villages. My understanding is that we will pass through various villages along the way as we drive to the different game parks.
My cousin who has been on safari before told me no, that we can’t just go into the villages and give them “our crap” (her words not mine!!!!). I’ve done a lot of research on our trip including watching lots of YouTube videos and I see safari vans going through the villages and children run up to the cars. My plan was to give them stuff when they come running up. Or asking our safari guide if we can stop at various villages and just donate to whoever we see, or if he knows someone. If you have been on safari, what do you think? My children have lots of nice clothes that look brand new, plus tons of toys. I’d rather give it to them than donate to the local thrift store. |
Anonymous
| No |
Anonymous
| Please don’t do this. |
Anonymous
| Ummm what |
Anonymous
| Your cousin is 100% right here. |
Anonymous
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Omggg NOOOO. So inappropriate. I get it OP. Heck, I’m a teacher in a poor area and my kids are so poor. I just want to drive around and throw toys and toothbrushes out the window to them.
OP, no. |
Anonymous
| Again, what’s with the sudden increase in trolls |
Anonymous
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Is this a troll? On the off chance it isn't:
I was on Safari in Tanzania a little over a year ago. My answer is this: Absolutely not. No. They do not need your used "nice clothes" or "toys." If you want to help poor children in Africa, you can donate money. Our lodges were run by Asilia and they support local villages and schools and we were given the opportunity to donate. Money. Not old jeans. Ugh. I really hope this post isn't real. If it is, how about you don't travel and make us all look terrible? |
Anonymous
| Spend money on local products, do not bring your stuff. |
Anonymous
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Cringe. Just give them money, don't fly your junk half way around the world.
Anecdote: About 18 years ago my wife and I spent the winter in Kenya. We were based at an orphanage where we volunteered, and I also volunteered with an engineering NGO. After a few months we realized that ALL of the things we were doing at the orphanage could be done better by locals who needed jobs. So I asked the orphanage director point blank: Is it more effective for us to stay, or to just go and leave you the money we would otherwise spend to stay at the orphanage cottage, meals, etc. He squirmed a bit, but answered me honestly: the money would be more effective. So we made a donation and went home. It is often selfish to do good in a way that feels good. It is much truer to do good in a way that IS good. Anonymous is best if you can. |
Anonymous
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I just did this. Took two large suitcases full of my kids clothes, toys, books, and shoes to Mexico. It was free to bring the suitcases and I easily brought $1500+ worth of stuff, all in either like new or excellent condition.
I feel like we spend all this money to travel places and it’s hard to make sure that we’re actually enriching the communities where we are traveling. So many rentals and hotels are owned by foreigners….how much money really even gets to the people in the community? Many places where we travel have a ton of poverty. The only thing is, I do think it’s a little gross to hand it out yourself in the community. What I did was go on Facebook and I found a group for expats in the area where we were traveling and asked them about the best way to donate. There is a massive need for things like shoes. The expats had a network for helping the locals and it was easy-they came and picked up the items from our Airbnb and even sent us pics of the communities where the donations were distributed. I also donated the suitcases which I understand is a huge help since most locals don’t have cars and it helps them transport things. Do it, OP! But find a church or local network to donate the items to instead of handing things out yourself. |
Anonymous
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OP. I know about those clothes trash heaps in the world. Partly why I want to donate directly to the source to avoid these items ending up in a burning pile of trash.
It’s hard for me to see why this wouldn’t be good. Children love toys and afaik, a lot of them wear donated western clothing anyway, usually having to purchase it from a vendor there. I just want to give it to them for free so their families can use the money for other items or services. No good deed goes unpunished on DCUM I guess, sheesh. |
Anonymous
Op here. Thank you! This is very helpful. I didn’t know how to exactly do this, or what channels to go through but I absolutely love these ideas. THANKS!!! |
Anonymous
This ^^. I volunteer at a shelter in NOVA cooking and serving meals, usually once a month, and I also make bag lunches and donate them a couple times per month (that's a real job, it's usually for 40-50 people). We have a very hard time getting the help we need. But every Thanksgiving, everyone wants to come cook and serve the Thanksgiving meal with little Larla or Larlo to "give back." The amount of staff time that it takes to answer this inquiries, which come in via emails and calls, is a problem. The last thing I need in the shelter kitchen on Thanksgiving is new volunteers who don't know the kitchen and how we serve, standing around and getting in the way or, worse, being condescending or anxious with the (wonderful) residents. If you are wanting to volunteer with little Larlo for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but not in June when we actually need the help? Well, like you said PP -- "It is often selfish to do good in a way that feels good" and harder to do it in the way that is good. |