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Writing paper in short
supply...
I note that one Journeywoman suggested giving pens and pencils
to begging children. I was told that sometimes these are
asked for so they can be sold. In less developed areas,
I carry pencils and small pencil sharpeners, but take them
to schools and give them to the teachers or headmaster.
Note, as well, that writing paper is frequently in very
short supply, so small notepads are another item welcomed
in schools, as is chalk (but chalk is heavy to carry). I
also take world maps to give to school principals. They
have been very well received.
I have often found that children are happy just to be smiled
at and acknowledged unless they are already "hard-core"
beggars. The Journeywoman suggestion of the rubber stamp
designs on children's hands is quite inventive and, I would
think, fun for the children.
Jackie, Canada |
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My Guatamalan teacher
says no...
I agree that gifts should be given out to children for appropriate
service or special deeds - not because they are begging on
the streets. My Spanish language instructor in Quetzaltenango,
Guatamala, informed me that giving gifts or money to street
children encourages that lifestyle. Instead, it was suggested
that I seek out an institution, such as a Red Cross equivalent,
that provides meals or services to street kids and make a
donation.
Linda, Inuvik, Canada |
|
Let's all eat together...
I also agree that handing out gifts to all children is not
good practice. Definitely do it where you have received hospitality
at a home, or when a child has particularly helped you find
your way or something you want. My practice on occasions was
to buy food for a child, or children, and sit and eat with
them. Everyone got something from the encounter then.
Lorraine, Brisbane, Australia |
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Don't create beggars...
I feel that tourists should never give things to children
-- not candy, gum (obviously a bad idea due to dental hygine
issues), pencils or pens. What it means is that we are helping
to create beggars! It's hard to resist those adorable faces,
but I think that tourists to out-of-the-way places should
do their best not to ruin them! One time when I was in Siberia
an older woman started berating our group saying that by giving
the children pens (which we'd been doing) we were turning
their children into beggars. She also made a really interesting
point, that we were undermining the authority of the parents
who were not able to give their children these things. Those
of us in that group resolved not to contribute to the problem,
but to consider bringing items (note pads, pens, etc.) to
give to the adults -- school teachers, parents, church organization
groups, and so forth. Believe me, once you've been to third
world countries where tourism is common and have been surrounded
by clinging, begging, yelling children, you can see the benefits
of not contributing to the problem.
Laurie, Palo Alto,
USA |
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Hand out toothbrushes...
Since I used to work in a dental office, and my Doctor was
very generous, I would bring boxes of toothbrushes to give
to children whenever I travelled. It was novel and useful.
Kathleen, Tuscon, USA |
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Ignore them for their
own good...
Never give anything to child beggars unless you want them
staying on the streets for their rest of their lives. Their
parents or the people controlling them think the child beggars
are profitable and don't let them go to school. Ignore these
children, run as fast as you can, although it seems a littel
bit cruel and makes your hearts uncomfortable. Approach a
local charity organization if you really want to help them
out.
Anonymous, USA |
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Coins in Egypt...
When I was travelling through Egypt I experienced the same
situation ...
kids were begging for pens, etc. But I gave small coins of
the local currency instead and there was no fight among the
kids. Besides, you never have enough pens with you.
Dr.
Gudrun, Basel, Switzerland |
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Swarmed by children...
I know some women hand out small bottles of shampoo. I can't
imagine carrying that many small bottles of shampoo around
India! It isn't necessary to give anything to the children
and giving to some of them can lead to you being surrounded
by swarms - it happened to me. Westerners may feel bad not
giving anything, but it isn't really necessary. When confronted
by children or swamis begging, I usually just gave each one
a very small coin and then walked away quickly. In one city
I was rescued by a local shopkeeper who shooed away the horde
of persistent children and scolded me for giving them anything.
Margaret, Cortez, USA |
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Beggars are a nuisance...
Do not give anything to beggars. Ever. Anywhere. Only help
persons that you know directly. If you want to help the poor
in a certain country, give money to an organization that helps
them. Children have no business hanging around foreigners,
they should be at school or at home and their parents should
teach them to stay away from strange adults. If you give money
to beggars they will probably not be able to keep it for themself
but be forced to hand it over to some criminals who control
the neighbourhood. It is not unthinkable that in a very poor
country even such simple items as ballpoint pens are going
to end up somewhere other than the classroom where the beggar
child studies. Besides, beggars are a nuisance to all of us
who travel. They should not be encouraged.
Elina,
Finland |
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MacDonald's .....
While I was in Egypt about 4 years ago I wish I had taken
some McDonald's Happy Meal toys . I believe the kids would
have loved that.
Linda, USA |
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Donate to a local charity...
I agree that random gifts should not be handed out to begging
children. Although it SEEMS like a nice thing to do, it only
distances you further as the rich Western tourist. If in doubt,
always ask someone from that country their opinion on the
subject. I feel that it is much better to spend your time
and money donating to a local church or charity and therefore
not contributing to the culture of begging. Of course, giving
a small gift to a child or family who has helped you in some
way is always a nice gesture.
Stacey, USA |
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Candy rots teeth...
About giving small lollypops to children who beg, DON'T!
Dental care is very scarce in developing countries. Innocent
seeming candy (unless sugar-free) will rot children's teeth,
causing pain and mouth disease and usually requiring the
tooth be pulled (without painkillers). If they don't get
dental care, the infections can spread. The problem of travellers'
candy causing cavities is so bad that a service providing
free dental care from volunteer dentists in well-touristed
areas has begun. Please don't give candy to children while
travelling!
Julie, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan
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Children fight over ballpoints...
Please, please do not give ballpoints or balloons to children
in developing countries! Children will fight over them (you
can never bring enough) and both items pollute. Very often
the most extroverted or strongest children end up with something
and the shy child is left behind with nothing.It also gets
children used to systematically ask for things. One of my
friends travelling alone in Asia was cornered in a side street
by a crowd of about 50 to 60 very insistent children and she
found the experience rather unsettling... If you want to bring
pens, pencils ( a better choice in my opinion) or small pads,
find a school teacher you can give them to. This is a much
better use of limited resources. Or contribute to an organization
like UNICEF. It's like at home. It is always better to give
money to the shelter than to give money to the panhandler...
P.S. I always read your wonderful journal with great interest.
Thank you!
Louise , a passionate traveller (37 years of travelling)
from Ottawa |
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Women's
words on charity...  To
have and not to give is often worse than to steal.
(Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach,
1893)
I don't want you to give me
your surplus. I want you to give with personal deprivation.
(Mother Teresa,
1987) You have no idea, sir, how
difficult it is to be the victim of benevolence.
(Jane Aiken Hodge, 1961) Charity
degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.
(George
Sand, 1842) |
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