Looking for Bulk Cheap Things to Take to Africa

whatmynameis on 28/03/2019 - 13:24

Does anyone have any recommendations on online stores that sell small koala clipons (https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRrY4…)

Or deflated soccer balls size 5 (preferably with a small pump)

Or small colouring books with pencils/crayons that have Australian wildlife on them?

We are travelling to Africa for about 6 months in July and want to take a few little things to give to some villages and schools while we are there. Found items online but nothing in bulk (15-20 pcs) thats not tourist pricing.

Thanks

Toys & Kids Africa

Comments

  • ihbh on 28/03/2019 - 13:43
    +4

    Shoes? Glasses?

    If you're going to Nigeria, condoms.

  • myusername on 28/03/2019 - 14:55

    how about taking them something useful?

    leave the box of 'thoughts and prayers' at home.

    those koala clip ons remind me of a meme, where christian missionaries give bibles out to starving people.

    Please dont take this the wrong way you seem to have good intentions.

    Take some cheap clothing. maybe when you're there find somewhere that sells food in bulk.

    when i was trekking through myanmar i would buy bulk rice in some places and take it to the poorer villages

    • Wystri Warrick on 28/03/2019 - 19:55
      +1

      Haha, op may not be one of those annoying Christians though.
      Btw didn't neg yah. Cheers :).

    • afoveht on 28/03/2019 - 19:56

      While this makes sense in principle I doubt that a one-off 'useful' gift will really be that useful; those sorts of things need to be persistent to change the situation, and should be a consideration even without exceptional circumstances like a personal trip to Africa. OTOH a one-off small cute trinket will probably light up some kid's face and they'll get a lot of fun out of it for a long time.

  • bdl on 28/03/2019 - 15:01
    +1

    I took the Koala clipons to Africa and people there loved them - it's a great idea and they were appreciated. Even adults loved them and they were a good conversation starter. They had them in the $2 touristy shops (in Melbourne). Honestly, nothing like Bibles to starving people - the locals enjoyed them as it was something different and "all the way from Australia".. (despite being from China :( ). Another thing that may seem silly but also useful - if you're staying in accommodation prior to your trip through Africa, the mini toiletries were also appreciated.

    • ihbh on 28/03/2019 - 15:40

      mini toiletries were also appreciated

      Did you provide instructions on usage - in all seriousness; imagine never seeing it before.

  • DarthAntz on 28/03/2019 - 15:09

    Chicken salt is mostly Australian and a great seasoning. Theres a lot of root vegetables and fried foods that could benefit from this condiment.

    • iforgotmysocks on 28/03/2019 - 16:08

      How do they decide which chickens become roast chickens, and which chickens become chicken salt?

      • DarthAntz on 28/03/2019 - 17:31
        +7

        chickens get named at birth. Some are called roast, some teriyaki, some butter. The mother hen writes it on the egg.

        The ones with bad attitude become salt. This is where the saying 'to be salty' comes from.

      • Seedy seed on 28/03/2019 - 17:39

        There is msg and 2 other flavor enhancers in chicken salt. The name comes from the paprika onion powder type seasoning that was used on the outside of roast chickens.

        Enjoy

  • dust on 28/03/2019 - 15:54
    -1

    Baby formula? Tim Tams?

  • Some Guy on 28/03/2019 - 16:23
    +2

    When I travelled in India, some 20 years ago, kids in the more rural areas I visited kept running up to us shouting "One pen!!!". In Kerala, they'd shout this running along the river when a tourist boat went past. In Sri Lanka, the kids just asked for money.

    In my opinion, you're training the locals to expect hand-outs from tourists and creating an unrealistic expectation, not to mention a rod for the back of travellers following you.

    Why not give some cash to an NGO or charity, or at least contact one for their input/advice?

    • Balmaino on 29/03/2019 - 08:45
      +1

      Charities often blow it all on paying their execs and staff
      as much as 95% of donations to common charities often goes towards "administration costs" and 5% to the actual cause
      i urge you to read carefully the financial reports of a charity before donating any significant amount of money. these are available freely through the ACNC.

  • outlander on 28/03/2019 - 16:37
    +1

    boomerang is probably the best thing.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2019 - 16:46

    Used calculators are almost worthless here but might be worthwhile over there for students.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2019 - 17:24

    What ever it is can probably buy it cheaper over there.

  • qwerty on 28/03/2019 - 17:39

    fidget spinners

  • Seedy seed on 28/03/2019 - 17:41

    A dvd copy of blood diamonds.

  • pformag on 28/03/2019 - 18:08
    +1

    Torches or reading glasses. They go crazy for this

  • whatmynameis on 29/03/2019 - 02:28

    Thanks everyone for the suggestions on things to take, but really only looking for online stores that sell more bulk items of what I am looking for.

    We are wanting to take a small number of these items to give to children who we interact with most during our 6 months there.

    I can understand people's opinions on not making children reliant on begging as it devalues them and over time they lose self respect. We want to take some soccer balls for example so we can have a game at a village and at the end, say here keep it and enjoy. Then we have spares for another village etc.

    • ihbh on 29/03/2019 - 08:03

      We want to take some soccer balls

      Probably need some hand pumps too.

  • Baniya on 29/03/2019 - 11:07
    +1

    Have you tried AliExpress?

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