Curious how many visit orphanages and schools while on holidays

[Jokelady]

I have begun to plan a visit to an orphanage in November while sailing the Dawn. I am making a point of doing this at least once while on a cruise. I wondered today how many others take the time to bring things to donate whilst on holidays?

 

We will be visiting Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan. Anyone have a favorite school or orphanage they have visited before?

 

Kathy

[China1234]

I have issues with visiting an orphanage for entertainment. An orphanage is a home to children without parents and going there to look at their living conditions and the way they live is not entertainment.

 

My son spent the first two years of his life in an orphanage and we did get to visit. I felt so sad for the children waiting for families as they watched us walk through their home and them knowing that we are not their new mom and dad. I will never forget the sad faces as we were walking out the door, I wanted to take them all home with me.

 

These are just my opinions, and I hope the orphanges do get some support from the tourists that come through.

[toberman]

I have issues with visiting an orphanage for entertainment.

 

I really don't think the OP was looking for "entertainment". He/she seems sincere in trying to bring some sort of comfort to those less entitled.

 

I do see your point though... we once did this in the DR. We had a foster child there, whom we had communicated with over the years thru her parents and interpreters and we decided to visit - the whole trip was planned to do this. It was really uncomfortable watching all the other children (and adults) in the barrio look at us (and possibly the foster child) with distain... "Who are these rich people coming into our community and disrupting our way of life?? and why is this child getting special treatment?" (My emphasis) It really was a terrible experience. Our foster child subsequently left the program and moved on.. possibly with our help, but we never knew why.

 

What we learned afterwords was.... go to the local charity groups, maybe the church or whatever... every island has a 'feed the poor' organization. Donate to them and let the local specialists decide what is best for their island.

[toberman]

Re-read my post and forgot to mention.... our foster child left the barrio and moved to a much better community with her parents and no longer qualified for the foster care program. Never heard from her again, but I can only assume - she's doing better now.

[DMH15]

No. My mother and I prefer to visit churches in port cities. We are Catholic. Sometimes the port times even allow us to attend Mass and receive communion. Regardless there is always a collection boxfor a donation.

 

The churches are beautiful to photograph.

[jame_g]

I guess I'm just jaded. Donate to credible charities from afar, volunteer your time where you can do it regularly and have a real impact. Visit an orphanage if you have an intention of adopting.

 

Otherwise don't disrupt. How would you like strangers routinely interrupting your private life? Or how would your teachers have responded to routine interruptions of your classes? Real charity is anonymous. I always feel like people who do these things are just trying to make themselves feel better while not realizing the disruption they cause. Interfering with routines and raising hopes of the children who fantasize that you're going to take them home with them.

[Davechipp74]

many here on cruise critic have posted that, they will bring extra luggage packed with nothing but things to give away to the local disenfranchised children in ports. also they always follow up with how great and positive the experience was.

i wish i did such things, and dont feel it would be disruptive at all

[jame_g]

I think its one thing to give to people you meet on the streets. It's another to go into schools or orphanages, where children are living or learning, unless you're just meeting with the administrators.

[philatiger]

When we were in the Dominican Republic we researched tour companies who also had outreach programs. We used outback safari in Punta Cana who would stop at a school and drop off supplies. No interuption to school, one of the teachers came out to the bus.

 

Do some internet searches for companies in your Port of Call that do outreach, might take some digging but they are out there.

 

I agree with some of the other posters, I would not want to interrupt or impose for just a day. We prefer the subtle approach but I do applaud your heart.

[Mom2B&Z]

I think its one thing to give to people you meet on the streets. It's another to go into schools or orphanages, where children are living or learning, unless you're just meeting with the administrators.

I completely agree. I would be horrified if people came week after week to see my children at school as if they were part of a display or exhibit, even if they brought wonderful things with them.

We too bring items for schools and young people in the places we travel, but the donations are made discretely and anonymously.

[palmyrafan]

I have begun to plan a visit to an orphanage in November while sailing the Dawn. I am making a point of doing this at least once while on a cruise. I wondered today how many others take the time to bring things to donate whilst on holidays?

 

We will be visiting Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan. Anyone have a favorite school or orphanage they have visited before?

 

Kathy

 

My personal opinion is that unless you have visited the schools and/or orphanages before or have done research on them, you have no idea what their needs are, other than money and there is no guarantee that the money will be properly handled. And as another poster stated, to get the hopes up of the children in the orphanage or school is cruel. I should know, I was adopted too.

 

That said, I think we should each be free to do what we like on our vacations.

[cruzsnooze]

I prefer to give my resources closer to home rather then abroad. We have children here in the US that need school supplies and food so why go else where.

[Jokelady]

I do my research before I go and speak to the people running the orphanages and they welcome people coming to spend time with the children and they really welcome cash and school supplies. They post wish lists on their websites. You can even come and do a volunteer vacation at most of them. A lot of my fellow Canadians do volunteer holidays.

 

Secondly, I do do my part at home. I am a foster parent in Canada and I just completed an adoption of a 12 year old girl and we adopted an infant 12 years ago. Most of my foster children that come through my home are Native North Americans. In the last 10 years I have fostered over 60 children and find it most rewarding. We currently have 9 children.

 

I took my foster children to Casa Hogar in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago. My children brough hats, coloring books/ books school supplies, hair ties and barrettes and cash. Casa Hogar was happy to see us come. My children ages 8 thru 15 sat and read to the little ones. We supplied a dozen books for them to read as well. My children came away humble and thankful of their better living conditions. It was a wonderful experience to teach my children to give back and not just drop money in a charity box.

 

I appreciate the feedback and look forward to personal experiences for those that do take the time to help the less fortunate whilst travelling to foreign ports of call.

 

K

 

P.S. I do not do this for entertainment but to share my good fortunes and to help the less fortunate as my Catholic faith taught me growing up. I did attend a convent for 3 years when I was in my late teens.

[Karysa]

I would find it depressing, not uplifting myself. The thought of seeing kids in an orphanage and then getting back on the cruiseship and having a nice hot shower, a wonderful glass of wine on the balcony and heading out for a great meal followed by a show seems odd to me. We all chose to help in our own ways. I book private excursions and stop by local restaurants and craft shops, if stopping by an orphanage is the way you choose to contribute then all the more power to you. :)

[LynneL]

I have brought crayons, colored pencils, notebooks, backpacks, etc. and gave them to children that were walking with their moms in a very depressed neighborhood in Roatan. I had our tour driver, who spoke Spanish, explain that we just want them to share them amongst themselves & friends.

 

Personally, I would find it upsetting to spend a day at an orphanage and then leave knowing they have no family. Some people may feel that the children having some interaction with people showing they care is better than nothing at all...and they may be right. I would think have people just coming in briefly to view the place would make the children feel like they were on display. I would hope the administrators would best be able to judge if spending time interacting with the children would benefit them or if it would be best to drop supplies in the office and leave.

[karen327]

I bring school supplies on most every cruise, but have researched beforehand and found charities that distribute them. I usually will ask vie internet to see what is most needed also. I would never disrupt the children at the school, I leave the supplies at a recommended drop off place or once left them at the school office.

[onlysister]

The first week of April we stopped in Roatan when I was on the Spirit with my daughter, daughter in law and 2 grandaughters. We requested to stop at the orphanage there. I had brought a few things from home, but we had the tour operator stop at a store and picked up school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks, colored pencils, and a basketball) One of the boys took charge when we got there, He became the tour guide for the girls. He showed them his room and all around, My DIL has tattoos on her arms and the boys were grabbing therm and trying to put them on themselves. It was cute. I stayed with ther administrator asking questions about the facility, what they would need in the future. most wanted at this time would be about $200 a month for the kids to spend at school when the other kids are buying soda or candy and they can't.

 

My grandaughters wound up with several boyfriends on this cruise. The boys at the orphanage claimed then as their girlfriends and then there were a couple boys on the cruise they became friends with,

[sail2sea]

I don't.

 

I prefer helping out in what I consider more long term and concrete ways. I buy foreign made goods.

[Karysa]

The first week of April we stopped in Roatan when I was on the Spirit with my daughter, daughter in law and 2 grandaughters. We requested to stop at the orphanage there. I had brought a few things from home, but we had the tour operator stop at a store and picked up school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks, colored pencils, and a basketball) One of the boys took charge when we got there, He became the tour guide for the girls. He showed them his room and all around, My DIL has tattoos on her arms and the boys were grabbing therm and trying to put them on themselves. It was cute. I stayed with ther administrator asking questions about the facility, what they would need in the future. most wanted at this time would be about $200 a month for the kids to spend at school when the other kids are buying soda or candy and they can't.

 

My grandaughters wound up with several boyfriends on this cruise. The boys at the orphanage claimed then as their girlfriends and then there were a couple boys on the cruise they became friends with,

 

So basically his request was not money for books or computers or qualified teachers but for soda and candy. Something seems terribly wrong with that.

[Patt0Butter]

We are just back on Dawn. Made a stop at school in DR. Preplanned with private Tour with Terry. It was obvious that arrangements had been made in advance for our brief visit. We were there barely 10 minutes. the teachers were friendly and appreciated the art supplies we brought as well as soccer balls with a manual pump. My children were humbled and appreciative of the opportunity. I would do it again although agree the pre-planning by our tour operator made it not awkward or intrusive.

[DevCruise]

So basically his request was not money for books or computers or qualified teachers but for soda and candy. Something seems terribly wrong with that.

 

Sometimes boosting morale is just as important than books, computers, etc.

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

I have begun to plan a visit to an orphanage in November while sailing the Dawn. ... We will be visiting Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan. Anyone have a favorite school or orphanage they have visited before?...

 

An Angel on our cruise -- in fact, that was indeed her first name -- did precisely what you are contemplating, in Roatan, along with her two or three teenage children. A successful strategy that she employed was that she relied upon a tour guide, Victor Boden if I recall correctly (note to moderators: I hope you accept the good intentions underlying my naming that company specifically here, but sanitize it if you absolutely must), to help her shop for local groceries in line with what would truly be of benefit to the orphanage. This was all arranged with the tour guide well ahead of the cruise. One of the guidances the guide gave them was to major in fresh fruits and veggies, with only small tokens of candy or toys, as the kids are really in much more need of the former than the latter. The guide also helped them get treated right in the marketplace.

 

Our Angel mentioned her intentions in the Cruise Critic roll call forum, ahead of our cruise, in no more an expectant way than you have made your intentions known, which I accept as you simply doing proper due diligence. It was not of Angel's doing, but several of us would not let her leave our meet and greet without letting us have a "piece of the action". So, for example, while my wife and I sipped pina coladas on a catamaran we chartered out of Roatan, we knew that Angel was able to buy just a little more fresh produce for the orphans. I make no allusions to us having made any sort of great sacrifice, and in fact I really wish we'd found her between the M&G and the Roatan port day, and doubled down on our contribution. But we heard after the fact that it went really quite well.

 

I commend you for your intentions,

InTheCruisingYearsOfLife

[Karysa]

Sometimes boosting morale is just as important than books, computers, etc.

 

I am all for boosting morale but when a supervisor at an orphanage says that the only thing he needs is $200.00 a month to buy soda and candy I get suspicious.

[onlysister]

So basically his request was not money for books or computers or qualified teachers but for soda and candy. Something seems terribly wrong with that.

 

 

I feel it would help the kids feel a part of the community more. They see other kids buying a can of pop or something and they can't. The Chinese Embassy is helping with a new technical school so they can learn a trade. There are other donations being used for other specific items. This was just one item that the administrator thought would be appreciated. The kids go to the regular school in town. I suppose the school could probably use assistance with getting books, computers and such.

[Karysa]

I feel it would help the kids feel a part of the community more. They see other kids buying a can of pop or something and they can't. The Chinese Embassy is helping with a new technical school so they can learn a trade. There are other donations being used for other specific items. This was just one item that the administrator thought would be appreciated. The kids go to the regular school in town. I suppose the school could probably use assistance with getting books, computers and such.

 

I guess I watch too much news but when you see so much of donated money falling into the wrong hands you have to wonder. I have no problems donating school items and I have done this as well through a cc meet and greet where members stopped with Terry at a Samana DR school and dropped off the donations. Heck I would have put in some candy myself if I would have thought about it but I would have raised an eyebrow if someone had asked for cash and for something so untraceable as candy well that is a difficult one for me to swallow.

One thing that people might consider donating is team # shirts from baseball or basketball leagues. A local lady collects the jerseys and sends them to Jamaica ( I believe) after the end of the year tourneys and the kids are delighted to send them together so that the children there can have enough shirts for a whole team. Our girls teams have done this a couple of times now.