What to bring to Kenya, which gifts to take and how to help wisely?

When we travel to African countries, we often ask ourselves what gifts to bring for local people. How to help. Whether it makes any sense at all.

When choosing gifts for people in Kenya, it is worth considering local cultures, customs and the needs of the community. Here are a few suggestions:

• School supplies: Schoolchildren may be grateful for school supplies such as exercise books, pens, crayons or erasers.
• Medicines and hygiene products: Basic over-the-counter medicines, as well as hygiene products such as soap, shampoo or mouthwash, can be a practical and much-needed gift.
• Clothes and shoes: New clothes and durable shoes can be a valuable gift, especially for those who may have limited access to clothing.
• Handicrafts: Handmade items such as traditional fabrics, jewellery or leather goods can make a beautiful, local gift. – here, of course, we mean gifts for your Kenyan friends.
• Toys for children: Colourful, educational toys can bring children joy.
• Cooking utensils: Choose practical kitchen items such as pots, pans or dishes that can be used in everyday life.
• Educational materials: Books, puzzles, board games or maps can support education and provide entertainment.
• Eco-friendly products: Environmentally friendly products such as cotton bags or reusable bottles can help promote environmental awareness.

Before your trip, it is worth asking local people, guides or charities which gifts would be most appropriate and welcome. It is also worth remembering to respect local customs and cultures when giving gifts.

So much for the general advice. What does it look like in practice?

In practice, Kenya has large supermarkets, such as Carrefour, where you can buy practically anything locally. Availability is one thing; another is that not every Kenyan can afford to shop there. Many gifts brought by Europeans are sold on and never reach the people who actually need them.

So what should you do?

Think about how to help sensibly. The point is not to hand out money and so teach dependence on donors. Support local businesses, buy from local artists, value the work of local staff (yes, tips included), talk to them, ask how they live, understand their needs and the challenges they face. Leave the hotel for a local restaurant, eat something local, and if you speak English, chat with the staff and get to know them. When you use big travel agencies and chain restaurants, you are making money for big global corporations. Want to help? Use local services.

After you return to Poland, you can keep supporting your Kenyan friend. Not financially. Leave a review on Google or on social media. Recommend their business in a group. It means a lot. Much more than a few dozen dollars handed over. But stay alert. Don't get drawn into fundraising for operations, medicines and so on. In very many cases this is, unfortunately, a way of getting money out of tourists.

It is better and safer to support hard-working people who sometimes only need a bit of advice and word of mouth about their services.

Suggest what they could do to win more customers. That way you support enterprising people who want to take matters into their own hands. That's all they need. Not charity. You'll see that it makes a lot of sense!