PRESENTS FOR KIDS?

Thanks Skylar for the advice. I always wear signet rings, but that's not what you mean, is it? Do you mean bling?!

going to Kenya myself in a couple of weeks and never really thought of this....think i'm going to buy a flat football and basketball (with pump) for the small village i'm going to, even if they already have one....it's good to have a back-up right?

I also have a instamatic (sp?) camera that hardly gets used....instead of just showing them a digital camera it would be nice to actually give a few out to the kids to keep for themselves!

might have to get a bigger bag!

hmm, depends on what it's made of... doesn't matter what it is, if it looks like gold or silver, it may disappear or you can get held up for it. Don't want to scare you, but if you are in doubt, just leave it in a safe spot. Perfect_Stranger, please be careful with your electronics, old or new. Discretion is the key.

Of course, especially with the digital camera......the thing is that where i'm going is with my g/f and her family (which grew up in this very small village, where everyone knows everyone) so hopefully safety won't be SO bad..but still.

And as for the polaroid camera...it was "borrowed" from work anyway...so no bother there really :p

I lived in Nairobi for a while and worked in a nearby slum. I wasn't your typical westerner because I didn't own a car. I took public transport and walked a lot. One thing I had a hard time with was the children constantly asking me for things or to sponsor them in school. At first you want to help every child you meet and then you realize you have to be strategic in where you help. I agree with everyone else. don't just hand out things to random children. They need love and attention more than anything.

I brought pencils but only gave them to the children I was directly working with. After we had established a good relationship with the school and had been there for a few months.

I also brought a digital camera and felt safe carrying it in my bag. I only brought it out around the people I lived with, worked with, etc. If you are careful in holding your bag so that no one will pit pocket you will be fine. the kids loved looking at the pictures I took of them on the camera as well.