When travelling in a poor country, is it better to give the locals gifts of cash or practical items?

If you would like to give cash please give it to the mother of the house. Please do this discretely so that she may decide how the money is best spent for the family (and not lost to the husband).

I like giving gifts to local children. Please do not give sugary treats. Educational toys are great but, please, make sure they don't need batteries.

Chalk and colouring pencils are always appreciated.

Practical items

Books, toys (simple ones like balls - many kids don't have any toys at all and children should have at least one toy), crayons, coloring books and clothing are always appreciated. Money can sometimes be tricky and can be taken as an insult. I leave any local currency that I have left with someone I met while visiting. Another nice thing to do is to bring a polaroid camera and lots of film. You can take photographs of the people you meet (with their permission) and then give them the picture. I took addresses down of people I met in Kenya and mailed them photographs of themselves and their friends with a nice note card. I still send letters every couple of months to the people I met. I get responses on occasion and I look forward to seeing them again.

It is touchy. Imagine you had a grandfather who raised 8 kids and worked in a factory for 32 years. Paris Hilton visits and starts throwing around gifts and money and dignities are crushed. Honest, hardworking people would sooner starve then accept charity. Orphanages and hospitals need gifts. A pair of crutches perhaps?

Neither. Its best to write a good practical letter to the head of state with a practical plan on how to eradicate the poverty. Maybe, just maybe, he will listen

practical gifts are generally more appreciated. Cash can be insulting. This holds true even in well-to-do countries like Germany or Great Britain.

i think of he's making plans to run interior the could 2007 elections, in any different case if he needs to help the poor he could desire to have executed it till now while he got here returned from penitentiary interior the U. S... that's all basically exposure..

$$$$$$$$$$.....But give the kids gifts.