⌛ Gift suggestions for the children in DGT?

Hi, everyone! Rick's flight is booked from Manila to DGT on Saturday, April 11th. He'll be arriving in the morning, and we were looking for little gift ideas for the children in DGT. He will be there the weekend of Easter -- are there particular little "trinkets" or candies that would be fun for the children?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Sue & Rick

 

very thoughtful

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it so thoughtful of you thinking about something for the children. Rhoody was a Santa clause last December, for sure he has a great ideas what to give to the children in "need" in Dumaguete.
Also one thing i learned from my boyfriend, "Travel Light" so that you can get out from the airport faster. You can buy anything in the Philippines and it's cheap. Easter in the philippines is all about eating and family reunion as it is the beginning of school break. Unlike here in Canada and US chocolate...and all that they can think of to make money. So relax pack your backpack and injoy the journey !

 

I wouldn't give candys... they can't afford the dentist anyway...
Mike from the Diveshop at they boulevard has a yearly wishlist for the streetkids before the school starts.

If you want to help one option is to contact him (or me) and donate a small amount, he buys each year for about 50 Kids school-supply. Notebooks, pencils andandand...

cheers
Rhoody

 

I'll second Rhoody's thoughts. Token bribes to kids in a third world country are generally NOT a good idea. They are usually a "feel good" sort of thing for the donor. I'm certain that is not your intent, is it? Donating money to support a charitable activity IS a better idea.

You may already belong to a church or other organization which supports the address of a really basic need here.

Many kids here don't go to school. Why? their families are sufficiently hard pressed just to feed and shelter them. Choices between food and school supplies are easily resolved in favour of the former.

Bring or send cash. It's the universal salve.

 

I carry around candies...usually of some chocolate variety. (They do LOVE chocolate here!) I firmly believe in passing those out instead of money. All-to-often the money ends up in the hands of drug dealers or "bosses" (sometimes family!) who feed the kids in exchange for the proceeds of their begging.

As far as giving money to a Philippine charity...well, maybe I'm jaded but their are more examples of corrupt charities, NGOs and certainly government agencies then there are examples of non-corrupted ones.

 

I don't think Mike or Rhoody are that corrupt... just have a look around Mikes shop in the evening when he takes care of the kids... and he never hands out any money, he hands out school supply what simply lasts longer and helps more than a piece of candy.

Another option would be to buy cheap slippers or small shirts for a few peso

 

... only if somebody hands out SMB hehehe.

I agree with Guru with the "charity" organizations. It takes time to find the right one, where money really ends where its supposed to go.

the slippers are also a great Idea, we had at the x-mas party a donor bringing some 70 pairs different sizes.

One of the peanut girls of the boulevard never went to school. When Mike opened his shop 3 years ago he started with that school-supply idea. Now she goes soon to grade 4 soon (with 14) but may have at least a bit of a chance in life.

In September last year their house burned down and another cloth-donation and some hundred hollow-blocks were given to the family ...

cheers

Rhoody

 

Thanks, everyone, for the guidance and great suggestions. When Rick was in Catbalogan two years ago and became friendly with a wonderful family, he walked two of the daughters to the local school, registered them and paid for a semester for each of them. They had not gone to school for quite some time, and the girls were SO excited (as was Rick!). We both feel very strongly about doing what we can to educate kids -- so very important to their future.

 

..all they need is someone who believes in them and inspired them. Food is for necessity and education is for survival.

 

Tooth Brushes and tooth paste and Candies.