Hi,
I wonder if it is a good idea to bring my small collection of slightly outdated mobile phone, VHS video camera and digital camera to give to people in Cambodia. If so, any organisation you can recommend?
When I went in 2002, I regreted not bringing my polaroid (I thought it would have been nice to give an instant photo to the people I met as a gift). Is it still a good idea now or are mobile phones with built-in camera pretty basic as in some part of SE Asia?
mkc
1
cmburns
Can't tell where you're from, but remember that only Mobile phones on the 900/1800 bands will work in Cambodia. Phones from the USA, Canada, Mexico.... are on the 850/1900 bands and just don't work in SEA. Polaroid seems a little iffy too, those cameras have just about gone the way of the slide rule and BataMax. I doubt you can find the Polaroid film packets in Cambodia. So if you want to give a Polaroid as a gift, also give them a bunch of film. Otherwise it's a nice paperweight. There must be some charitable groups that would like to have digital camera and maybe even a VHS video camera.
2
serotrance
Please don't hand out expensive electronics (even if they seem cheap to you) to strangers you meet in Cambodia. It only perpetuates the myth that foreigners have an endless supply of wealth. An NGO would be a better idea, but I don't know of any off hand that would take those.
3
grooger
Agree with number 2.
The past few decades has seen Cambodians receive hand outs from everyone from the world bank to the average tourist.
It has become expected that the stupid white man will just keep on giving money for nothing. This only increases the lazyness of the people and also makes it very difficult for foreign investors to make a go of it here (everyone from all govt departments want a piece of you time and time again, Why? Because the white man has plenty of money and he likes giving it to us). Ironically, the only way forward for Cambodia is Foreign investment.
Most, if not all of what you give will end up in the wrong hands anyway. Have you ever wondered how a govt employee on $75 a month drives a new top of the range Mercedes?
4
hankor
<blockquote>Quote
<hr> Is it still a good idea now or are mobile phones with built-in camera pretty basic as in some part of SE Asia?<hr></blockquote>
Yeah, people here love new phones and phones with cameras are common as muck.
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Most, if not all of what you give will end up in the wrong hands anyway. Have you ever wondered how a govt employee on $75 a month drives a new top of the range Mercedes?<hr></blockquote>
Yeah, sure, a government official who drives a mercedes is really going to be interested in someone's second hand phone. Anyway, how do you know anything about where they get their money, they could have legitimate businesses.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner