When visiting Africa it can be a bit of a shock to witness the poverty and basic standard of living that surrounds you. Here in the west we live in such a different world to most Africans that it can be hard to grasp the differences between our lives. Africa and its people can have quite an intense emotional effect on you which is part of the reason that people fall in love with Africa and are drawn back again and again. As a result most people want to help and to share their good fortune with the people they meet on their travels on this amazing continent.
One way you can help is simply by travelling in Africa and choosing a company that gives back to the country. Use a travel company that employs local guides and a local office and your money will be going straight back into the local economy. There are also many travel companies that support local charities such as Farm-Africa, Send-a-cow, Oxfam, Save the Children etc.
On your travels in Africa, in Kenya or Zambia, in Botswana or Uganda, you will often encounter small children who are naturally curious and who will come up to you with hands held out for gifts. Opinion is divided on how to help. Many people take small, easy to transport gifts with them such as sweets and pens to hand out to the children but other people say this just encourages begging which is demeaning, disruptive and often bad for their health. Many agree that it creates a cycle of dependency and that gifts that are sustainable are a much better way of helping.
You can choose whether to take gifts with you or not. Perhaps a better idea is to give useful gifts to local schools or orphanages. Make sure you first find out what they need and how much they need. Pass the gifts onto the Head of the School so they can be distributed fairly. If you don’t wish to give gifts then you can instead give your precious time and skills. A day or more spent helping out with a class teaching reading or writing would be an invaluable gift. On our weekend safari in the Masai Mara you can arrange a visit to the local school through the Karen Blixen Camp as they are very closely linked to the local community.
Even better would be a long-term commitment to help fund a school or orphanage – you really will be making a huge impact on the local community by making people’s lives better and for the long term. One such orphanage in Uganda is sponsored by one of Real Africa’s founding members.
