my son is visiting an orphanage in south africa

[stephrick]

He is 18 and leaves on Sunday with 4 friends on a 2 week working trip, they are visiting an orphanage and needs to takes gifts, this has been sprung on me, any ideas apart from pens, crayons etc, I was once good at these things, for santa shoebox, should I go the same route. I do not want it to seem patronising in any way.

Twister Twister Twister Twister Twister Twister Twister

Twister is so easy to play and easily transcends all language/age/cultural boundaries etc
Years ago a friend took twister on his trip to an african country - the kids loved it, they begged to play at any opportunity and he left it behind when he came home.
:)

Pants and bras for older girls - would he be embarassed? Is one of his friends female.

What about a couple of space hoppers - cheap and flat.

Oh I don't think that would be appropriate sashh!

We were in rural SA for 3 months earlier this year and the children my dd was at school with and the ones connected to our church there were always amazed by dd's coloured pens, gel pens etc.

Hair clips and bobbles is a sweet idea BUT a vast majority of the girls have totally cropped hair.

Oh yes -ds's trains and cars went down a storm.

Shoes - often they only have one pair - for school and have to walk home bare foot so a so not wreck their shoes. Oh- just seen the flip flop suggestion above - that sounds perfect!

Agree with balls.

i've added a post on Ivana's thread - I'm happy to donate something and cover books and post stuff to Steph.

Thankyou for all ideas, he is there now with only 1 text, quote " I at the place now" I know he is excited and I'm not that important in the scheme of things but I wanted more info, first born and having to let go I suppose.

aww, they do grow up, don't they!