More frequently now, my thoughts are focused on our upcoming visit to Tanzania. Somewhere during the middle of our safari experience I know my feelings will turn toward what I might do to leave something behind other than my footprints and a few well intended promises. I want to hear your individual stories. What have you done to make a difference? I’m looking for inspiration.

Salaams,
KhakiF

One of our groups planted trees at an orphanage near Karatu, Tanzania. We also visited a nearby primary school and shared lots of school supplies with them. In subsequent years, other groups I was in visited there (Rift Valley Children's Village, www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org), toured it, and left gifts (cash or otherwise.) I now sponsor a boy there and I think others have, as well. Since you're going to Tanzania, perhaps you could arrange a visit, too. Karatu is the town near the Ngorongoro Crater. The orphanage is about 30 minutes off the main road; the turnoff is just before the Farmhouse.

We put four Maasai girls through high school.

This is a great post, thank you. I've also felt a strong desire to find ways of trying to keep a connection with the places I've visited and the people I met there... and hopefully it helps a little, too.

Like ShayTay, we sponsor a child at the Rift Valley Children's Village -- it was so great to have the chance to visit him and play with the kids there one afternoon, and I wish we'd set aside a whole day (or more) of our trip for that. We send birthday and Christmas gifts for the kids, as well as DVDs, coats, books for the library, and things like that. I try to gather donated items from friends at work about once a year and send them all to the Tanzanian Children's Fund.

I was fortunate to travel around Uganda and Rwanda with the zoo where I do volunteer work, and we visited several projects that are supported by the zoo -- The Budongo Forest Snare Removal Project and Kibale Fuel Wood Project, among others. Since we returned home, my husband and I have been active with the Oakland Zoo fundraisers for these projects and for elephant research in Kenya. We also work in the Earth Day booth each year selling items for Virunga Artisans (Rwanda) and Kibale Fuel Wood (Uganda), and trying to help raise awareness about gorilla and chimp conservation.

Like many people on this board, we sponsor an elephant at the Sheldrick orphanage, and we also sponsor a chimp at the Budongo Forest Conservation Field Station. These are little gestures, I know, but any little bit of financial support can help an organization like these.

Last year, we decided that instead of a safari our African vacation was going to be dedicated to working on a volunteer project. We chose to work with Project Phiri (via Earthwatch), which is doing brown hyena research in northern South Africa. That was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done with my free time and vacation dollars.

I think it's wonderful if people care enough to try to help, but speaking for myself, I do have to say that I can never "repay" Africa for all those wonderful things it has given me. Still, I want to keep trying to do my little bit.

I'm looking forward to hearing other people's ideas.

I've sponsored a couple of elephants and several gorillas and donated when the poachers were so bad in Kenya. Sharon, I've noted your link and will help there. Marija, do you have a link for where you help?

Have never done anything directly as a result of any trip, save the odd adoption of a chimp or elk here and there.

But I (we) do contribute somewhat significantly to Kiva.org and to The Heifer Project. And if I can find a suitable volunteer trip I have the time and would be quite willing to join.

I do microloans through Kiva, as well. I usually do the loans in countries where I've visited, as a way to "give back." Most of the people I've met in Africa are really hardworking. They just need the chance get their small businesses going.

I also sponsor five children and a social worker through Special Ministries in Kenya (www.kenyahope.org.) I've been to their offices and met their personnel, so I feel really connected with them. Of course, there are the larger organizations such as World Vision. I've sponsored a couple of children with them (Kenya and Ethiopia.) For wildlife, Sheldrick's is a great organization; Chyulu is my "baby".

Sundowner,
We support the maasaitrust which is affiliated with Campi ya Kanzi:
http://www.maasaitrust.org/how_you_may_help/index.html

Duh, Marija, I've been the Campi ya Kanzi. I should have remembered that. Sandi (divewop) and I also took a bag full of school supplies for them when we there.

ShayTay, thanks for the other info.

Sundowner, I thought you were just setting me up for the link to the trust!

School supplies and cash for schools are always welcome and something I've done, which is on the lower end of the giving scale. Sometimes you can encounter worthy organizations while there and give. That's why it's always a good idea to have adequate cash. A donation can be a nice substitution for a souvenir you'd bring home and your pocket feels no different in the end.

Since you asked for inspiration, there is a safari forum that includes chat, reports, interviews, and some nonsense, but it also has a section with organizations in various parts of Africa that do a variety of good work. It is possible to make some donations from home to places you're going or places you've been. I give to some of those organizations. That site is safaritalk dot net.

Whatever inspiration you receive or others receive from this question, hopefully it will result in some increased benefits for Africa. Thanks for posing it.

Like MyDogKyle stated, the equation is not in balance for me either. I'm more of a receiver than a giver to date.

Khakif,Thank you for starting this topic.Some of our most memorable experiences in Africa have to do with the people we have met,and shared their dreams .What a humbling experience!In 2007,while in Rwanda ,I was able to set up a trip where my wife and I hosted six Rwandan widows of the genocide to accompany us from their village in Kigali up to the park to trek for gorillas.Just a small way to brighten their lives.BTW,these widows are supported by a Canadian lady.We also sponsor a student from this project.The website is www.ubuntuedmonton.org
In Tanzania,we are excited to provide ongoing support for the Masai-Joy School just outside of Arusha,that provides early school education for orphaned children.As many will agree,it's all about education!
I am sure these experiences will play a large role in a return visit sometime soon.

I agree with others who have said that their most memorable experiences in Africa are the cultural/social service ones.

I have done microloans through Kiva (and just recently attended a presentation by one of the co-founders = very inspiring), I sponsor a child in Northern Tanzania, and I sponsor a Maasai women's group in Mukuyani (in the Lake Manyara/Tarangire wildlife corridor) who are making strides at lifting themselves out of poverty.

My suggestion would be to find a project that doesn't involve just doing a donation "dump", but is more sustainable.

Visits with the locals are always fun, engaging and rewarding and I commend you for thinking to step out of your safari vehicle and into the lives of the locals in a meaningful way. It will change your life in ways you can't anticipate.

As a mother, I have always found it heart-breaking that mothers in Africa have no photos of their children - particularly given the high mortality rate of infants and children. So, whenever we visit a village, we take many photos of the people. When we return to Canada, we make 5x7 prints and send them back to the camps that we were staying at when the photos were taken. The camps have always received our photos with enthusiasm and with promises to distribute them. Hopefully, they have! Robin

I should add that on our latest trip to Kenya and Tanzania, when we outlined our plans to the various camps, a couple of guides/staff members asked if we would mind taking their photos and sending them copies. One young Masai guide at Olduvai Tented Camp planned to give it to his mother. We happily obliged!

While I have done some of the things listed above and like Lynn and MDK am mainly a receiver of "gifts," visiting African safari countries has led me to make more frequent and greater contributions to wildlife and conservation efforts here at home. People and animals are struggling to survive and trying to find ways to coexist everywhere you look once you start looking. Poverty is destructive everywhere. It's one planet, after all, and we're all in it together.

Happy Earth Day!

That's a great idea, canadian_robin. Have you ever thought about taking a portable photo printer?

Thanks for the ideas and inspiration, everyone.

We did think about a portable printer, but decided that it would take too long to print all of the pictures (on location). Also,once we are home, my DH crops and edits the photos before printing them. Robin

Fuji makes a few small instant cameras... wonder if it would be worth it to take one along for those photos?

We give big tips!

Leely has the think globally, act locally philosophy down. Glad you mentioned the photo angle, Robin. When combined with the school visit, a whole packet of photos can be sent.