“How many times have you been traveling and visited a school or community or local charity that you would love to help? The school needs books, or a map or pencils; an orphanage needs children’s clothes or toys. All things that, if only you’d known, you could’ve stuffed in your rucksack. But once you get home you forget, or you’ve lost the address, or worry that whatever you send will be stolen before it even gets there…â€
That’s why we’ve set up StuffYourRucksack.com – Kate Humble
There it is, right from the source – the simple concept upon which stuffyourrucksack.com was built. So often well-wishing travelers bring things like sweets and toys for kids in developing countries, when what they really need are school supplies or toothbrushes. This new website unites those rural communities and charities with travelers coming their way. The communities post a sort of “wish list” of the type of items they need, and travelers can search those lists before they go and fill up their packs with needed donation items.
What I like about this concept is that it develops a relationship right away between the traveler and the communities they will be visiting. It provides a basic but wonderful tool for ensuring that your good intentions translate into needed things. It also may help to move poorer villages away from begging from travelers, as they find a more effective tool to receive help.