A Time for Giving | |
So
often, family travelers head south for wonderful vacations to countries blighted
by poverty. And so often, vacationers wish they could do something to help.
At this time of year, when our hearts grow a few sizes (and our wallets are already open buying gifts), who not give something back to the people who warmly welcome us and our kids?
Below are three charities that work in ways that your children can easily understand.
Jamaica: SOS
Children's Village
Jamaica invented the all-inclusive resort, and is home to some wonderful family
resorts, including Beaches,
Starfish, and
Franklyn D. Resort and sister resort
Pebbles.
Jamaica has also, for decades, been a country beset by many troubles.
A good place, perhaps, to spread a little holiday largesse.
The highway west of Montego Bay leads to many top resorts, and if you keep your eyes open during your shuttle-bus trip you'll see a sign that says "SOS Children's Village". The goal here is "to offer orphaned and abandoned children - regardless of race, nationality or creed - a permanent home and to prepare them for an independent life." The Jamaica SOS Children's Village has been established for many years and all enquiries I've made about it have brought good feedback.
Click the "Helping" link to find out how to donate. If you're one of those families who return year after year to the same resort, you can point out the place on your next visit-- and perhaps even arrange a stop.
Heifer Project International
Heifer offers an innovative way to give
direct help to families in need: Heifer gives families a special kind of
gift-- animals, so that
families can feed themselves and perhaps earn extra income too. You can choose
to give a goat, a pig, a cow... Choosing your animal is a great way to involve
the
kids. (Click on "Gift Catalog.") Wondering if Heifer is a
reputable outfit?
See what the highly reputable Walter Cronkite
has to say.
Sponsor a Child: Plan
International
Some of you may remember a charity called "Foster Parents Plan": donors signed
up to give help directly to a family in a poor country, and could write letters
and sent gifts to their "foster child."
Over time, aid workers realized it was preferable to give help to a whole community, rather than single out certain families for special treatment. But the personal link with a particular child remains: you'll still be able to write to (and send small easily-mailed gifts) to your special child, who'll write letters back, translated if necessary. You'll receive pictures, too, and reports of how your child is progressing in school, and how the family is faring-- all in all, a wonderful way to teach your children about the very different realities around the world, and to begin a habit of reaching out to help someone.
I'm familiar with the Canadian Foster Parents Plan. The US organization is called Child-reach. The price of sponsoring a child is very reasonable: $24/month.
Pass it on
Finally, a small but personal gesture that kids can easily understand: next time you're heading to a family resort, why not bring along some
extra clothes and picturebooks and give them away at the end of your trip? Some
resorts have strict rules that forbid employees to accept anything-- even a
dollar tip-- from guests. But if you mention to your maid that you'd like to
leave some clothes etc., she'll probably tell you it's ok as long as you also
leave a letter stating your intentions. Rest assured that if the clothes don't
fit her own kids, she'll know someone who can make good use of them.
