I’m collecting ideas of travellers to non-western countries
about what to do and
what not to do to help local people (in return for favours
or for nothing) or to
stimulate economy for local people. I’ve heard a few
statements which have their
pros and cons. Some of these statements are fed by cultural
imperialism,
others are good intentions but could miss the point, others
are valuable insights
and should be shared among other people.
I’m also particularly interested in changes of opinion about
development aid.
(because of experiences from travels)
I’m looking for statements like:
· Do not give locals your western items in return for
favours??? (we don’t want
Masai on Nikes)
· Do not give old shoes for development countries because it
will ruin the local
market of making shoes from old tyres (Africa).???
· Do not give money to local people rather then items or
food because money they
will use only to buy Alcohol??? (a quote from a local
person I met)
· Do not give money to beggars because it will stimulate
them to beg instead of
trying to find a job???
Any information(source) is welcome:
Your own opinion about certain statements,
Other peoples statements or opinions about statements,
Possibly interesting websites, books, articles, etc.
Thanks a lot,
[There are 7 posts - the latest was added on Thu 26 Feb, 23:26]
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Will send u e-mail soonish with some ruminations.
Thought I'd start a public debate here...
My opinion(for what it's worth) is that travellers or tourists should do no more than add to the local economy as "locals" would ie, restaurants, hotels, transport costs, even souvenirs are all ok because they bring in dollar revenue which otherwise would not reach the region. Donations - with the exception of pens for kids, eg, - should be avoided, even if it's a pair of shoes or pants which the person desperately need; rather swap something you have for something they have so as to avoid a begging syndrome and incucate a self-dependency and market-oriented appoach. And perhaps the Masai would buy a pair of Nikes if he had the bucks, who are we to say he or she shouldn't have any?!
That's it for now, let's get the ball rolling...
Anyone who has been to Africa and stayed with the locals off the beaten track knows that the 'natives' find white/Asian visitors very amusing. They can't fathom why they go around in tour buses , heads sticking out rooftops with expensive cam-corders/cameras to hand.
I myself must agree with this....it looks pretty hilarious/silly!
Obviously it's townspeople who go on these 'safaris'....I, being a farm boy, didn't find the animals that fascinating (the buffaloes were fine beasts, though).....I had one day in Nakuru Ntl. Pk. and another in Lake Bogoria (Kenya) in the company of native Kenyans.....that was out of 13 weeks in the country! Moreover I found many of the tourists arrogant/unfriendly and they certainly weren't popular with ordinary Kenyans. Most Africans never see an elephant or rhino in their life-times......the place is not at all like on T.V. except in a few Game Parks.
Africans are mostly proud people and are upset by the way Europeans force themselves on them. They are like everyone else....some I met are among the most stupid/ignorant people you can meet....others are so, so intelligent.
What's more (in Kenya anyway) the Government (with outside help) is trying to create a piss-artist culture......the blatant advertisement and promotion of the use/abuse of alcohol is only disgusting/degrading , especially on the radio (all language services).....seemed to me like the old selling the booze to the Red Indian trick.
Its a really difficult question as our ideas of what's ethical are so different. The act of begging, for example, in many cultures is not considered 'bad', and alms giving is a way to higher glory etc. etc.
In Ghana I met with plenty of people asking for money. Most I refused, as it appears to just be a habit to ask westerners for money!
Plenty of people asked for money on the pretence of offering me some kind of assistance. I was up front and told them I did not need help and was not going to 'dash' them.
Sometimes I was helped by people out of genuine kindness and these people did not ask for a dash. For these people I offered (for example) the remainder of their taxi journey - I paid the taxi driver and ensured he would not ask for more money. I also returned to the tourist office in Ho who had helped us and brought them some chocolate and wine as a thankyou. Some children took us on a guided tour of Dixcove, it was very good and we enjoyed their company. For them we bought some cokes and chicken when we stopped to have our lunch.
I stayed with my girlfriend who works as a VSO in Ghana and she makes a very good point about accepting higher prices as a tourist. For her receiving a local wage as she does, she cannot afford tourist prices. Most people tend to see a white person and assume they have plenty of money. Therefore, even though she knows the local people, and they know she is a VSO, she still gets asked to pay the tourist price. If I got into a taxi with her and payed the tourist price, then from then on she would not be able to pay a local price! She also points out that no-one is going to give you a service for less than a profit. So if you haggle too low, you won't get what you want. I developed my own plan, always haggle, but accept the price you pay is higher than a local. Always stay good natured when haggling and you will get a good price, the taxi driver (or whatever) will get a good price - and everyone's happy!
dont give locals: foreign currency, western clothes that
are unlike what the locals are wearing, any clothes
with a logo, gifts like sewing machines that put people out
of work or deteriorate the quality of local crafts. I have
travelled extensively and found that this approach will
avoid the monocultural implications of high impact travel.
In many places you'll find young children offering their services as guides, porters etc. - or just begging. Don't bother. What you'd give may well turn out to be more than their parents would earn in a week. You may think this a charitable act easing their poverty, but its not much of an incentive to go to school. Furthermore, is it really wise to foster a generation conditioned to, and dependent upon coaxing money from foreigners: you could be training the conmen of the future.
Hello everybody!
My name is Bernard and I live in
Lausanne (that's in Switzerland!!).If you
want speaking with me through
Internet,I'll be happy!I'm 20 and I studie
boilogie at the University.
My adresse is:bjunod@hotmail.com
See you soon and thanks!
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