Small gift ideas for sponsored children in third world countries.?

Question

The girls are ages six, eleven and twelve. The boy is thirteen. They all live in hot climates.
I need to come up with some small articles that can fit into 6x9 envelopes. Any ideas??

Answer 1

I watched an episode of Oprah of her showing footage when she went to Africa. She brought gifts for the children. One was an African doll made just for them to look just like them (thinking that most dolls made are pale complexion) and the kids liked it okay...and then she showed the audience the kids reaction to brand new clothes, the kids flipped out to Oprah's surprise.

I would try to fit necessities inside. A shirt could be squeezed in the envelopes. Other ideas...socks, belt, headbands, barrettes, tank tops, combs, toothbrushes, etc. I like the idea above of the small bible (in their language) but I would imagine everything gets inspected and maybe taken. I wonder if that would be confiscated. Go for it anyway...it will end up someones hands.

Put in a picture of your family. Those are always special. Try to have the background in your photo without fancy material items that we take for granted such as toy, cars, or fancy houses. Try a scenic background or a park setting.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Kids In Third World Countries

Answer 4

6 x 9 envelopes are not very big. I would NOT suggest anything in a tube like toothpaste. It could burst and ruin whatever else you have in the envelope.

Here's a children's website that you can print off coloring sheets and they have a large selection. http://www.freekidscoloring.com I would send coloring pencils as opposed to crayons simply because they will last longer and there's no problem with melting.

Girls of any age love hair doodads, ribbons, barrets, etc. Sample size soaps and things that you can buy in Target, Wal-Mart, etc. but put anything that could break or leak in baggies. Cards ... learning cards like phonics and math.


The boy is a puzzle. He's probably too old for little cars. Maybe soap, deodorant, toothbrush in a case so the bristles don't get crushed. Writing instruments ... pens, pencils, erasers and pencil sharpener. Yo-yo!

I've never known a child that didn't like candy. Hard candies would mail well.

You didn't mention whether you had a price limit so I've kept things down just in case you do.

If not, how about small N.T. Bibles with special Bible markers and bookmarks. Bookmarks you can make yourself out of card stock with something special written on them like a Scripture verse that is special to you or a picture to color ... let your imagination go.

I hope this gives you a few ideas.

Answer 5

Holiday Ornaments Online Gift Card

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1550828

Answer 6

We always used to send things like: Pens (all different kinds), pencils, paper/stationery, crayons, hair do-dads, small coloring books, New Testaments, toothbrushes, paste? (at your discretion), combs, brushes, nail clippers, nail files, ..... there's a myriad of things. Go to a dollar store. If time allows, see if you can get some of their currency and put in a little spending money ... they love that! We used to use the 6x9 bags but then they were all put into a box so we could tuck in lotions and other dripping things without damage. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

6X9 envelopes? That's hard. All I can think of is gift certificates they can use where they are. Or money order for the country they live in. I know in the Phillipines they accept money orders, even Mexico.

Answer 8

avoid cachet cosmetic and fashionable items. Culturally these items may not be as useful. Pick items that are sturdy, unlikely to break and is more useful than valuable. Valuable things including money will invariably be stolen in a third world country.
So for girls stick to nylon articles of clothing like panties one size large that she can grow in, nylon so it will last, not cotton. Toiletries are useful but get used up. Pick things a girl can use for a long time like tooth brush, comb, hair/comb combination, flat boars hair brush, berets and ribbons for her hair. Small pocket bible in her language if possible, and a small carpenters pencil. sturdier than your standard number 2. you can toss in some perfume samples that you can get free from cosmetic store, but I doubt if it will get to her.
finally sweat bands in girl colors

For boys a nylon briefs, comb boars hair brush, a bible, the sturdy carpenter's pencil. A multitool that can be gotten at the dollar store. nylon t-shirts tt can compress down. nothing thin and breakable. Finally sweat bands in boy colors

Answer 9

Toothpaste, toothbrush, small bottles of hand sanitizer, combs, post-it notepads, chewing gum, minature candybars, Bic disposable pencils with erasers, hairbows or barettes for the girls, and a handheld game such as Yatzee for the boy.

Answer 10

Small coloring books, with miniture boxes of crayons, you can purchase these in a party favor isle, include books that tell the story of Jesus, you will be giving them a far greater gift, also try cards, jacks, if they'll fit, dice, punching balloons, look in the party favor isle.