Quote Originally Posted by dash View Post
Boy am I gonna get flak with this one. $. A preferred cycle would see a local community member peeling veg and doing dishes, paid by donations. The salary would echo through the community. I wonder sometimes what the kids see when foreign tourists come for a morning bearing gifts or candy and giving out hugs, only to leave and a new face appear the next day. I wonder which one benefits most with that scenario? I don't know the most efficient way to disburse charity. But most solutions are grown locally. Unless you have a special skill, teaching (not English as a second language), medical, Vet science, engineering, sports therapy etc. I think dollars and responsible tourism are preferred.
In general, I sort of agree with this as giving funds to assist qualified people to appropriately target the most urgent needs is best but.....

Let's not minimize the face-to-face show of caring that foreign tourists project when they take the time to visit and to help as well. I am not the mushy type that brings a lot of gifts and candy but I do my little part assisting the children of my hometown to have a better life. I could (and sometimes do) just give money for the school breakfast program to feed needy kids but I also like to give directly to some worthy students whom I have observed having a rougher than usual life both economically and emotionally.

Think carefully about the "gifts" you bring. The more you can give then give but if you are limited to what you can contribute then give some money and some time too.

It does everyone some good to know that someone cares about them.

Peace and Guidance.