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Visit to a school
I could not find this information anywhere in this forum. I read somewhere that we visit a school for children on the Kenya/Tanzania tour. Do we take school supplies for them, and if so, what are we to take?
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We took deflated soccer balls and a pump. They love soccer and get theu a lot of balls on the tough pitch. Some take supplies. They prefer cash so they can buy more suitable books. You can also sponsor a child which is what my daughter and daughter in law did a couple of years ago. We choose to support a hospital nearby.
From our final itinerary packet - departing early September:
Please note: During certain times of the year, we may or may not visit a local school. This is
dependent upon the school's calendar.
During your journey in East Africa we will visit a local school. We have included this visit because
we have heard from many of our guests that they would welcome an opportunity to meet local
children. There are many differences between the modest African school we'll visit and those
found in the United States. First, many of the children attending local schools in East Africa must
walk long distances (sometimes an hour or more) to attend school. For this reason many children
tend to stay in dormitories at the school rather than walking back and forth each day. Additionally,
it is standard for children to wear uniforms while in school. Lastly, there is often little money to
purchase supplies needed for these school children.
For this reason, Tauck makes a donation to the school each time we visit. We recognize that many
of our guests still feel compelled to help personally, as we often receive inquiries as to what can
be brought to the school for this visit. If you feel you would personally like to bring supplies for
donation, please feel free to do so. Please note that we discourage gifts of cash and candy as
they encourage begging. Although well-intentioned, such gifts develop a dependent attitude in
the children while undermining their tribal culture, as well as their families who cannot afford to
provide these treats.
The cash I mentioned is given to the school not the kids themselves