When traveling to African countries, we often ask ourselves what gifts to bring for the local residents. How to help. Does this make sense at all?

When choosing gifts for people in Kenya, it is worth taking into account local cultures, customs and needs of the community. Here are some suggestions:

• School Supplies: Children in schools can be grateful for school supplies such as notebooks, pens, crayons and erasers.
• Medicines and Hygiene Products: Pharmacy supplies, as well as hygiene products such as soaps, shampoos and mouthwashes, can be a practical and necessary gift.
• Clothes and Shoes: New clothes and durable shoes can be a valuable gift, especially for those who may have limited access to clothing.
• Handcraft Products: Handicraft items such as traditional fabrics, jewelry or leather goods can be beautiful and local gifts. – here, of course, we are talking about giving gifts to your Kenyan friends.
• Toys For Children: Colorful and educational toys can bring joy to children.
• Cooking Tools: Choose practical kitchen items such as pots, pans and utensils that can be used in everyday life.
• Educational Materials: Books, puzzles, board games and maps can support education and provide entertainment.
• Eco-Friendly Products: Eco-friendly products such as cotton bags and reusable bottles can help promote environmental awareness.

Before your trip, it's a good idea to consult with local residents, guides and charities to find out what gifts would be most appropriate and appreciated. It's also worth remembering to respect local customs and cultures when giving gifts.

So much general information. And what does it look like in practice?

In practice, in Kenya there are large-format stores, e.g. Carrefour, where you can buy practically everything on the spot. One thing is availability, another is that not every Kenyan can afford such purchases. Many gifts brought by Europeans are sold and never reach those who actually need them.

So what to do?

Think about how to help wisely. It is not about giving money and thus teaching people to be dependent on donors. Support local businesses, buy from local artists, appreciate the work of local employees (yes, also in the form of tips), talk to them, ask about how they live, understand their needs and the challenges they face. Go out of the hotel to a local restaurant, eat something local, if you know English, talk to the staff, get to know them. By using large travel agencies and chain restaurants, you allow large global corporations to earn money. Do you want to help? Use local services.

After returning to Poland, you can continue to support your Kenyan friend. Non-financially. Leave a review on Google, on social media. Recommend his company in the group. It means a lot. Much more than just a few dozen dollars donated. But be vigilant about it. Don't get involved in collecting money for surgeries, medicines, etc. In many cases, unfortunately, this is a way to extract money from tourists.

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

Tell us what more we can do to acquire more customers. This way you support enterprising people. Who want to take matters into their own hands. That's all they need. Not almsgiving. You'll see it makes a lot of sense!