“We must all travel more wisely, be respectful of what we take as well as what we leave.”
Besides taking care of our carbon foot prints (we plant trees!) you can make positive changes when you travel. When I travel I always carry gifts. If I go to a country where people have a need for clothing, I visit my local thrift store first. I take clothes that are fine to wear for the next few weeks but that I can leave behind before coming home. I have left bags of clothing with many women who were almost in tears to get a warm jacket, or newer flip-flops, even a bra. I bought a winter coat at the thrift store to wear in Toronto when I had to stop there en route to Africa, and donated it to a local shelter before flying on to a place where I would not need a winter coat. I once left my large, empty suitcase in a Mayan village where a very pregnant lady was eyeing it as a baby bed…
If you take pencils for kids, do also take along a pencil sharpener and some nice paper. I have also taken those little tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes that you get in hotels, and little bars of soap. They can make nice gifts for kids in remote places, as do scissors and craft supplies.
By getting to know local people, you can find out what the needs are. We paid for a new toilet building in Myanmar when we found out the kids at a local school only had a squat hole. The building was affordable by western standards and made a huge change in sanitation.
Give thought to books: many countries do use English books; but a beloved North American novel about a dog may not have the same meaning in a country where dogs are not pets. A Christmas story does not work in a Muslim country. But nonfiction books with photos about machinery, vehicles, growing vegetables, etc. can be useful for all ages. In addition to leaving items, consider helping one of these grassroots organizations that put books into the hands of children:
• If you can’t get a book at your local bookstore (always the best place to buy), I urge you to order from Better World Books. They recycle, reuse and donate books. They also donate funds to libraries and schools and they ship every book, new or used, free of charge anywhere in the world: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/
• Hoopoe Books produces books in different languages, often bilingual books, and runs literacy programs including Books For Refugees: https://hoopoebooks.com/
• Books Over Borders puts books into the hands of the poorest children who have often not owned a book before: https://booksoverborders.org/
• Room To Read works in many countries. This NGO builds libraries and promotes writing, illustrating and publishing of books in local languages: https://www.roomtoread.org
• KIVA is a worldwide, online micro lending bank. You can lend 25.- or more to the person of your choice, in many countries and in many fields. Eventually they will pay off their loan which you can then reinvest. There is also a KIVA in the Classroom option. https://www.kiva.org/team/childrens_book_lovers
Children in Myanmar
ASIA: Pennies for Peace is a USA based service-learning program where children can help children. They believe in peace through education: www.penniesforpeace.org
Cambodia:
For schools, including the floating school of Siem Reap, send books to:
Poleak Chham,
#Group 11, Chong Kao Sou Village,
Slokram Commune, Siem Reap City, Siem Reap Province,Cambodia.
Phone +855 93 437 455 or +855(0)17 437 455 (WhatsApp)
India
Jamyang Bhutia
c/o Sikkim Himalayan Academy
P.O. Bhuriakhop
Bhuriakhop Busty
West Sikkim 737121
India
www.sikkimhimalayanacademy.org/
Check the website for local addresses and mailing instructions.
Pakistan: One of the most impressive and successful literacy projects I have ever seen, is the Alif Laila Book Bus Society in Pakistan. It bring free education, literacy and learning opportunities to thousands of children in an effective manner. You or your class can sponsor the program in many ways: Alif Laila Book Bus Society
This project will enable bike libraries to reach children in underprivileged areas of Lahore to have access to literacy. Especially during Covid-19 restrictions this will be an essential service to many children. Any donations are welcome and will make a difference: Bike Libraries in Lahore
Projects-on-the-Go will help over 1,000 girls to explore arts and crafts and find out how to start careers and small businesses. You can help in many ways. A 13.- donation buys arts and craft supplies for one girl. Check the list for more ways to support education: Mobile Spacemaker for Girls
A related, equally fabulous project is from The Institute for Cross Cultural Exchange, which published folk tales, puts books in the hands of many children, including Canada and Pakistan: http://www.iceeducation.org/indexR.html
AFRICA:
• CODE is a Canadian organization that ‘promotes the right to education for every child’ in the broadest sense. They supply books, teaching supplies and more. code.ngo
Zambia’s Book Bus
You can volunteer and bring books to children on this reclaimed safari vehicle.
Ethiopia:
www.ethiopiareads.org
Ethiopia Reads
PO Box 50393, Minneapolis, MN 55405 Phone(612) 354-2184Email: info@ethiopiareads.org
Not only do they run libraries, they also publish books in English and Amharic. A fabulous organization that can use financial support of any size.
Kenya: Canadian author Eric Walters is involved with Creation of Hope, an orphanage in Kenya about which he wrote several books (Hope Springs; My Name is Blessings, Hockey Night in Kenya and more). You can sponsor a child or support a specific project: hopestory.ca/where-we-work/kenya
Tanzania: African Roots Foundation: with very little money they make a huge difference in the lives of the Maasai by supplying them with water containers and a filter. This simple tool has drastically reduced illness among the Maasai. ARF also runs other projects, improving the lives of people while protecting the natural environment: https://www.facebook.com/Africanrootsfoundation/
• Zambia: Here’s a fun way to support a book-related project. I wrote The Elephant Keeper after visiting an elephant orphanage in Zambia. You can ‘adopt’ a baby elephant with a one-time (or on-going) donation: Game Rangers International. Give the book as a birthday gift and include the ‘adoption’ of a real baby elephant!
We volunteered with the Book Bus in Zambia. They operate in different countries. This British based NGO brings books to children in remote areas, while volunteers act as librarians, read books aloud and stimulate children to read: https://thebookbus.org
Mexico: Volunteers based in Paamul, Quintana Roo support literacy, health and education. They fund raise and do the physical labour to bring books, build a library, offer grants and school supplies to children in nearby Mayan villages: https://www.facebook.com/PaamulServicestoOthersCommittee
Kashfi’s Children is a nonprofit that produces and distributes books to children in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and other countries. They support education and foster tolerance, positive change and hope.
Initiated by author Izzeldin Abuelaish as a peace project for Middle Eastern women and girls, Daughters For Life provides scholarships: https://daughtersforlife.com/
“ I met the best friends I ever had in books.’ ”