I’ve written about this before but it keeps on happening… DO NOT hand out pens, caramels, sweets, soap, balloons, “MAWNEE” or plastic water bottles to the children. In the Mursi village, an English couple handed out balloons to the children. Two days later, we’re in a Karo village and the children are already asking for balloons. What good are balloons to an impoverished, subsistence village? They’ll break or tear within a day and all that’s left is for children to ask every other tourist who comes their way for balloons. Henock and all smart guides say don’t give ANYTHING! Make a donation to the local school, orphanage or hospital.

Even the plastic water bottles are a threat to their health. Their traditional wide calabashes can be washed and kept clean, worn on their heads as a hat when not in use and are easily available. It was always fun to see them sauntering along the road with a calabash on their head, or sitting in the market wearing one…never looking ridiculous.

Hamer woman wearing a calabash in Ethiopia

another woman wearing her calabash in Ethiopia
Now they beg for your used plastic water bottles that are impossible to keep clean. The insides harbor germs, the plastic turns a dirty brown color and eventually the people sicken.

Without exception, every child along the road begged for “I-O-Landa” (water bottles). They’d make a dash out of bushes, huts, from behind trees…running alongside the car, and into the road, scaring the life out of Henock and us. So afraid that we’d run over one of them and, man, are they fast! I could see why some of the best runners in the world are from Ethiopia. Thoughtless tourists are encouraging the children to risk their lives for just one pen, a plastic water bottle or mawnee. One day a child will die because unthinking tourists believe they are doing them a favor.

running alongside the car for a pen or water bottle, Ethiopia 

give me…give me…give me in Ethiopia 

pen…pen…pen, Ethiopia
No one knows better than we how difficult it is not to give just one pen when we have so many and pay so little. But I implore you. Just throw a few boxes of pens, and pads of paper into your suitcases. Your guides will be happy to direct you to a local school. and/or orphanage. They will bless you for it and you will help keep the people safe and healthy…