I was merrily preparing my bag to school just now. I love giving to charity, it's such a win win situation.
However, a memory came past me of when I used to work in Tanzania (at the time, one of the poorest countries in the world). I went to a second hand market there, my Tanzanian friend said it was a big thing there, and some men made a great deal of money from them. I soon saw why...
...I was living on a very small wage, so was close to an average Tanzanian wage, so was shocked to see T shirts, old battered T shirts, were selling for a day's wages, that is a mans wage, 7 hours hard labour!
This is not like charity, where poor people benefit. Comparatively wealthy middle men benefit. Western clothes are highly sought after, traditional clothes, although often very beautiful, often aren't considered cool.
But it makes money for the school... yes but even on that end it is a rip off, only makes a fraction of what it would make in a charity shop. Also this isn't charity, it's business. The poor people are being really ripped off!
Also do the privileged kids at our school really need that ice cream when they go to the seaside, bought for by the bag to school scheme?
Mmmmm. I'll take the bag to a proper charity shop I think.