How to give something back while luxury cruising?
March 7, 2012 9:39 AM Subscribe
How can I do something nice for the locals while my family and I are on a big phat cruise?
This May will find my family and I on a Western Carribean cruise stopping in Cozumel, Jamaica, and Labadee, Haiti. I know we're adding money to their economy in some way just by being tourists, but we're not totally comfortable with just that. How can we do something a little more helpful?
We considered bringing art supplies to give to a school in Labadee. Do you foresee any problems with that idea?
And do you have experiences or other ideas that could help us make our fancy cruise vacation more than just a fancy cruise vacation?
Thanks!
This May will find my family and I on a Western Carribean cruise stopping in Cozumel, Jamaica, and Labadee, Haiti. I know we're adding money to their economy in some way just by being tourists, but we're not totally comfortable with just that. How can we do something a little more helpful?
We considered bringing art supplies to give to a school in Labadee. Do you foresee any problems with that idea?
And do you have experiences or other ideas that could help us make our fancy cruise vacation more than just a fancy cruise vacation?
Thanks!
Well, Labadee is privately leased to Royal Caribbean, with giant fences all around. It's entirely tourist-oriented and you won't be able to get to a school even if you wanted to. The only people allowed in the area are guests and those employed by RCCL. So there's a potential problem for ya.
Cruise Critic is a great resource for any and all cruise-related questions and the boards are full of seasoned cruises more than willing to help.
posted by ferociouskitty at 9:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Cruise Critic is a great resource for any and all cruise-related questions and the boards are full of seasoned cruises more than willing to help.
posted by ferociouskitty at 9:47 AM on March 7, 2012
Your fancy cruise vacation is just a fancy cruise vacation. Here's a relevant post on the blue. Money is usually better than goods. In many countries, money and goods will never get to the people you're trying to help, despite your best efforts.
posted by msbrauer at 10:08 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by msbrauer at 10:08 AM on March 7, 2012
For helping Haiti and other countries, consider donating to Doctors Without Borders or to my favorite, which is Partners in Health
Bringing goods with you will be heavy, and may or may not be items that the organization you choose has any practical use for. Many impoverished schools want to provide lunches or shoes for children. Art supplies are great, I agree. Community involved health care, however, is better. (The PIH model is especially good, training local people for involvement in the care of their communities.)
posted by bilabial at 10:16 AM on March 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
Bringing goods with you will be heavy, and may or may not be items that the organization you choose has any practical use for. Many impoverished schools want to provide lunches or shoes for children. Art supplies are great, I agree. Community involved health care, however, is better. (The PIH model is especially good, training local people for involvement in the care of their communities.)
posted by bilabial at 10:16 AM on March 7, 2012 [4 favorites]
3rding that a financial donation to a carefully selected organisation already on the ground is absolutely the best option. Take the money for art supplies and give it it to Doctors Without Borders or spend the time to find an arts organisation to whom you can donate directly.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:32 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 10:32 AM on March 7, 2012
Why not just tip big when you go ashore? I think schlepping stuff is sort of pointless, and cash money is more useful than your idea of what's useful. Also see divabat's recent post on the blue.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:33 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 10:33 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
As one American who has traveled to improvished countries, for vacation and for business, I advise against any such plan of yours. You will be seen as arrogant and self-serving (locals can very quickly pick up on rich tourists who try to donate to feel good). Luckily, many of them are not aware of the subsequent relish shared in the storytelling of our 'good work' against the backdrop of wine glass clicks & soiree dinners. I'm not talking about you, just generally.
At the least, your gifts will be taken, but not well-received. And at worst, you will be majorly scammed.
Expiate through the local charities.
posted by Kruger5 at 12:33 PM on March 7, 2012
At the least, your gifts will be taken, but not well-received. And at worst, you will be majorly scammed.
Expiate through the local charities.
posted by Kruger5 at 12:33 PM on March 7, 2012
Best answer: Treat staff and other people you meet on shore like human beings, not servants, not cultural artifacts and not exhibits in a museum or zoo. Learn a few words of the local language. Ask questions about the food or the trees or the family.
As someone who used to work in development: like others said, please reconsider just "giving" stuff as the long-term consequence is the exact opposite of what you want. Handouts encourage people to beg and expect free stuff in lieu of work or school. Handouts do not encourage self-respect, a feeling of pride or ownership of a project or item.
Other suggestions here like donating to an organization online (apart from your trip) are spot-on. You can use something like Charity Navigator to learn more about the organizations and their effectivness.
posted by whatzit at 2:48 AM on March 8, 2012
As someone who used to work in development: like others said, please reconsider just "giving" stuff as the long-term consequence is the exact opposite of what you want. Handouts encourage people to beg and expect free stuff in lieu of work or school. Handouts do not encourage self-respect, a feeling of pride or ownership of a project or item.
Other suggestions here like donating to an organization online (apart from your trip) are spot-on. You can use something like Charity Navigator to learn more about the organizations and their effectivness.
posted by whatzit at 2:48 AM on March 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
There is a little bit of a power dynamic at play here which would make things a bit squicky, in my opinion.
Perhaps you could research a local charity organization and donate directly to them to offset your guilt? I mean, you're going to be a tourist no matter what you do, I don't think you'll be able to downplay that feeling no matter what. Have a good time, be conscious of yourself when speaking to locals, and spend money on things that seem worth spending.
posted by Think_Long at 9:46 AM on March 7, 2012 [1 favorite]