East Africa safari…donating clothes and toys along the way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy crap. This is a new low.

Really? A new low? You can't possibly think of anything worse? JFC. The op wanted to do a small act of kindness. She's not handing out soiled clothing and broken toys. And if it's donated locally, where's it going to end up? LIKELY AFRICA. In the big bales. If you think for one second that all of your donated stuff gets reused locally, you are wrong. Second hand stores are overfilled with crap, and even if it's nice stuff, there's still a good chance it get sold off to a broker and shipped overseas.

DP. Agree with PP that the original post is awful enough to be a new low for DCUM. The fact that you — and some others on this thread — don’t understand that? Also quite a “low.” Ugh, there is some deep ignorance around here.

+1. That anyone thinks this is not only appropriate, but a good thing? So gross.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bring clothing or toys. You could ask the safari company if there are any local schools in the area that could use supplies (like paper, folders, markers, crayons, sports equipment, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Find a mutual aid group on facebook in your community collecting items for new migrants. They actually want your stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spend money on local products, do not bring your stuff.

This. Take your empty suitcase and fill it with local products and give them as gifts when you get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bring clothing or toys. You could ask the safari company if there are any local schools in the area that could use supplies (like paper, folders, markers, crayons, sports equipment, etc.).

Better but as others have said, what they really need is $ so they can buy exactly what they need instead of random donations. The question is - do you want to help or do you want to feel good about yourself and get some recognition.

The part about throwing stuff from the car as kids come running does seem a little troll-y though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't bring clothing or toys. You could ask the safari company if there are any local schools in the area that could use supplies (like paper, folders, markers, crayons, sports equipment, etc.).

Better but as others have said, what they really need is $ so they can buy exactly what they need instead of random donations. The question is - do you want to help or do you want to feel good about yourself and get some recognition.

The part about throwing stuff from the car as kids come running does seem a little troll-y though.

I don't disagree with you, but I do feel like I have some expertise and knowledge about these issues. I have worked in the international development field my entire career and have lived in low resource countries. The reality is that there are institutions in these countries (especially in more rural areas) that can use in-kind goods. Schools and health clinics are two options. Will your in-kind goods get to people that actually need them rather than being sold/stolen (or just kept in a drawer because they are too nice), YMMV. Throwing cash at these local organizations may also not work out depending on who is in charge of said institution. There is a lot of corruption. It's possible that OP's safari company supports some local village institutions. I would start there and do some research. I would also tip generously for anybody that helps you do anything.

[Anonymous]

I've been on safari before and one thing op is right about is that the children do rush the safari vans. They learn at a young age who is traveling in these vans -- tourists with $$$. And when you reward them, this behavior gets ingrained and passed down

[Anonymous]

Wow this is a new depth, even for DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Do you also have a black friend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you also have a black friend?

She will after this trip. *Shows selfie with African kids*

[Anonymous]

OP is getting a lot of tough love from DCUM today!

[Anonymous]

Pack up the White Man’s burden
Send forth your Boden tweeds
Go bind your clothes to exile,
To serve your #blessed needs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For everyone saying to just donate money-you understand that presumably OP already has the probably hundreds of dollars worth of clothes that she could bring whereas she may not have that money to donate in cash, right?

Are you seriously saying it would be better to do nothing if you can’t do the most perfect thing?

The most perfect thing here would be to donate those toys and clothes locally to people in need here who have the same climate and toy culture as your kids. Please don't play Marie Antoniette and show up at Masai Mara with your cast-offs when what they really need are jobs, better infrastructure and better health care.

It’s not OP’s job to fix the societal problems of jobs, infrastructure, and health care. Come ON.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help the places where OP is visiting rather than donating locally.

No one said it was OP's job to fix these problems. But money could help do that in a way that old clothes for the wrong climate cannot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This THIS THIS.

My grandfather drilled that into me: true charity is anonymous. Everything else is done for self.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spend money on local products, do not bring your stuff.

This. Take your empty suitcase and fill it with local products and give them as gifts when you get home.

I'm the PP – that's exactly what we did! Plus, every safari company has a foundation and ties to the local communities – it is a much better way to contribute.

Our safari had a limit on the number of bags and had firm size/style requirements – so it would have been impossible to bring anything extra anyway. But I worked in development in the US, I know the answer is always "give money." Giving stuff is fine if it meets an organization's specific needs, but money is always the best choice.