Ramifications of handing out gifts to kids

I read the Feature Article “Rwanda — Finding More than Mountain Gorillas” (Aug. ’16, pg. 46) while I was planning a visit to Rwanda. The author’s vivid descriptions made me excited to hurry up and get there. I did, however, come upon a statement that I would like to comment on. She wrote, “On my next trip, I will take some books or pens to offer to the kids as gifts.”

I have been traveling since 1957 and have visited 131 countries. On my honeymoon trip to the Middle East in 1965, our local Turkish guide stated, “If I see anyone giving candy, coins or pens to any of our children, I am going to be very mad. Our children are not starving. They do not need money to buy bread, and they do not need school supplies.” 

She continued: “I have a 5-year-old boy. Any 5-year-old will beg if people give him candy and money. How would you like your child begging and taking candy from strangers?”

I proceeded to Luxor, Egypt, that same year. A small boy with his two sisters asked me very sweetly to photograph them, adding, “We don’t want any bonbon or money. Just, please, take our picture.” About 10 years later, I returned to Egypt with a friend. The youngsters were practically tearing the clothes off of our backs for “bonbon” and baksheesh.

In 1990, I went to Rajasthan, India, to ride camels for five days in the desert and to attend the Pushkar Camel Fair. Noting that some of us were carrying candy and bubble gum for the children “because they could really have fun blowing bubbles,” our guide issued the following statements: “I know you have treats for the children. The children will love you for it. It also will create a craving and desire for more candies as new tourists arrive. Now, look around and tell me if you see any dentists or clinics for decent dental care in this area. It is your choice.”

In Zaire in 1994, a group of Rwandans in a refugee camp received provisions that were being dropped from a helicopter. One individual from our group gave two children one pen each.

Hundreds of children then poured out from everywhere demanding pens, but we didn’t have hundreds of pens. The children then attempted to tip our vans over with us inside. It was quite scary.

I went to southern India in 2000 on a tour that was run by a professor who had lived in the area. He sent us up to a tiny village but didn’t go along. He gave us each some candies for the children. I pleaded that we shouldn’t hand out candy to the children, but he said, “Nonsense! This is such a tiny village, the children never see tourists and would never start begging.” So up to the village we went, candy in hand.

I didn’t hand out any of my allotment. After about 10 minutes, my fellow travelers ran out of their shares. The children then became almost violent, striking people and pulling on them. Local adults put the travelers on a pedestal and guarded them so the children could no longer reach them. 

In the meantime, I was filming the mayhem. I was saddened to see, in the background, one boy being whipped by an elder as we awaited our vehicles to rescue us.

If travelers truly feel the need to give treats, school supplies, etc., it works out better if these items are given to the teachers in a school to distribute, themselves. It’s probably even better to purchase the supplies in the area along with the school staff, as they will know what is needed most.

MARILYN ADELMAN

Chicago, IL