No random "School Pens" for "Developing countries" please!!
I thought it was only me and another handful of people I know who think giving school pens for "gifts" or "candy" randomly to kids anywhere you travel is such a BAD and STUPID idea.
Do you have any ideas how many times I was asked for "School pen" while I was traveling in India?? Not because they really need the school pen.. Not because they can't afford it or anything. But some silly tourists keep giving them pens and candies, assuming that they're helping the "developing" countries AKA : Third World countries. WRONG. giving things randomly to the kids on the street is encouraging them to beg!!
Why you shouldn't buy food to feed elephants on the streets?
Same problem with elephants in Bangkok. They're wandering around Bangkok, the place they're not supposed to be. Why?
"Ohhh look at that poor elephant, They must be hungry and tired"
Imagine a bunch of tourists sitting at Starbucks Siam Sqaure or wherever as posh.
"Let's buy them some bananas, how much is it? 20 Baht?" And after feeding poor elephant. They managed to take a few pictures with digital camera.
And another 20 Baht goes to the elephant mafia. Some of them might think how cruel we are. Thai people don't help elephants at all they don't even glance that the poor beast. You know why? Because we know that the money keeps them coming back. It's ILLEGAL to bring elephants in the city. But with money they can bribe whoever in charge. Because they still make profits!
If you really wanna help. There're many organizations you may like to donate some money to help for REAL.
I want to help poor Asian children out of perverty, What's wrong with it!?
I've come acrossed many people from "developed" countries backpacking around South East Asia. Those they think they're "helping" by giving pen, pencils, chocolates to children along the way they're traveling. This is abusing in my opinion. They're children, not beggars. They didn't even know they could get these things from tourists before they started to offer to them.. for no reasons, Just try to be nice. But too bad it's a wrong way. I'll come back to post about "What's the developing, third world countries" later when I have time. this is one of topics that got me quite upset everytime I hear.
I just stumbled upon a European girl. Who planned to do "backpacking" around Asia to help children. OK, sounds good. To keep long story short. She couldn't find any organizations whatsoever. So she ended up giving "School pens" and notebooks to some school in Vietnam randomly. That school was so surprised.
It looks like a good thing to give things to poorer people. But I still believe that there're many ways to help.
You give a fish to them now they can eat it only for one day. But if you teach them how to fish. Then they will be able to live on their own. That's a real "HELPING" to me.
A few weeks later. The same girl. She went shopping at most expensive mall in Bangkok. Bought simple small purse for a few thousands Baht. (only) And once she complained that a taxi from Khaosan to Siam Center is too costly (70 Baht!! that's less than 2 euro!)
Can you tell me what's wrong with this people?
Doesn't matter how lovely they look!
I found a good article on Couchsurfing.
"Giving pens and sweets to children encourages them to beg. Doesn't matter how lovely they look, if you don't know a child well, avoid giving them anything material. But you might think of giving them drawings of yours and sending them pictures you took of them. Ask for their address. This is not only true for children, if you take somebody's portrait try to send it to them. It is about respect.
It is often better not to give money on the brisk of a moment, but think of it and do some research when you are back home. Find a charity you trust in the country you are thinking of and help them. If you have some medicines you want to give away, give them to a local doctor (they are always welcome), not to families. They might be used the wrong way and beside they could go against local practices and knowledge. Similarly, you might want to give pens and notebooks directly to local schools.."
Do you have any ideas how many times I was asked for "School pen" while I was traveling in India?? Not because they really need the school pen.. Not because they can't afford it or anything. But some silly tourists keep giving them pens and candies, assuming that they're helping the "developing" countries AKA : Third World countries. WRONG. giving things randomly to the kids on the street is encouraging them to beg!!
Why you shouldn't buy food to feed elephants on the streets?
Same problem with elephants in Bangkok. They're wandering around Bangkok, the place they're not supposed to be. Why?
"Ohhh look at that poor elephant, They must be hungry and tired"
Imagine a bunch of tourists sitting at Starbucks Siam Sqaure or wherever as posh.
"Let's buy them some bananas, how much is it? 20 Baht?" And after feeding poor elephant. They managed to take a few pictures with digital camera.
And another 20 Baht goes to the elephant mafia. Some of them might think how cruel we are. Thai people don't help elephants at all they don't even glance that the poor beast. You know why? Because we know that the money keeps them coming back. It's ILLEGAL to bring elephants in the city. But with money they can bribe whoever in charge. Because they still make profits!
If you really wanna help. There're many organizations you may like to donate some money to help for REAL.
- Treasure Our Elephants-
Foundation for the Conservation of Northern Elephants
www.treasurethaielephants.org
- Elephant Help Project
http://www.elephanthelp.org/
- http://www.welcome-to.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/elep-nationalday.htm
-
National Elephant Institute
(Thai Elephant Conservation Center)
www.thailandelephant.org -
Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand
www.aeft.org -
Friends of the Asian Elephant
www.elephant.tnet.co.th Elephant Help Project
www.elephanthelp.org
I want to help poor Asian children out of perverty, What's wrong with it!?
I've come acrossed many people from "developed" countries backpacking around South East Asia. Those they think they're "helping" by giving pen, pencils, chocolates to children along the way they're traveling. This is abusing in my opinion. They're children, not beggars. They didn't even know they could get these things from tourists before they started to offer to them.. for no reasons, Just try to be nice. But too bad it's a wrong way. I'll come back to post about "What's the developing, third world countries" later when I have time. this is one of topics that got me quite upset everytime I hear.
I just stumbled upon a European girl. Who planned to do "backpacking" around Asia to help children. OK, sounds good. To keep long story short. She couldn't find any organizations whatsoever. So she ended up giving "School pens" and notebooks to some school in Vietnam randomly. That school was so surprised.
It looks like a good thing to give things to poorer people. But I still believe that there're many ways to help.
You give a fish to them now they can eat it only for one day. But if you teach them how to fish. Then they will be able to live on their own. That's a real "HELPING" to me.
A few weeks later. The same girl. She went shopping at most expensive mall in Bangkok. Bought simple small purse for a few thousands Baht. (only) And once she complained that a taxi from Khaosan to Siam Center is too costly (70 Baht!! that's less than 2 euro!)
Can you tell me what's wrong with this people?
Doesn't matter how lovely they look!
I found a good article on Couchsurfing.
"Giving pens and sweets to children encourages them to beg. Doesn't matter how lovely they look, if you don't know a child well, avoid giving them anything material. But you might think of giving them drawings of yours and sending them pictures you took of them. Ask for their address. This is not only true for children, if you take somebody's portrait try to send it to them. It is about respect.
It is often better not to give money on the brisk of a moment, but think of it and do some research when you are back home. Find a charity you trust in the country you are thinking of and help them. If you have some medicines you want to give away, give them to a local doctor (they are always welcome), not to families. They might be used the wrong way and beside they could go against local practices and knowledge. Similarly, you might want to give pens and notebooks directly to local schools.."
Labels: asia, developing countries, thought
posted by bee at
10:07:00 PM
2 Comments:
Good point! Why only school pens or candies?
I love taking photos of children and sending back to them, which I always do when travelling.
I don't know. Maybe they're used to "buying" stuff. Nothing is free in this world?But it's creating bad habit. I don't support it.
It's not as easy as "Alright, here's the pen, now go study, draw some picture, write ABC, be smart, develop your country! Make your country disappear from the list of Third World countries! yaaayyy!" sometimes it's just a feeling of being superior. I guess.
Fortunately there're still many "givers" who know how to give, who to give and when to give...
Well :-) Spread the words..
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