toys for the less fortunate

Diez Y Siete says on Nov 25, 2005, 22:17:

That is kinda what i was told arnt there laws to make them go to school?

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cam0940 says on Nov 26, 2005, 09:07:

While I believe the picture you paint is true in many cases GIB, the same lack of family law enforcement is what makes it possible for parents to just up and decide they don't want junior around anymore, and sometimes these kids have been kicked out of the house. Put out on the street to fend for themselves. Scores of them just die in the streets. This is the honest to God truth, I've seen it. The time I've spent in Bogota was in nicer neighborhoods granted, and I don't claim to be an expert on what's going on there. Hell I don't claim to be an expert on any part of Colombia. But I do know for a fact that a lot of pelados are out hustling in the street for their own survival. Whether Children's Services exists or not in some neighborhoods of Cartagena, I don't know. But you see these little people out there just as stray as a dog. With me, it depends on how the person approaches me. If they have any kind of decency about them at all (which will be 1 in a 100), I might give him a moneda or two. But as a rule of thumb, I do not give anything. They either approach with a sense of entitlement or just way too aggressive for my taste and that doesn't get them very far with me. Besides, I can't save everyone. Then I'd be broke, too.

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cam0940 says on Nov 26, 2005, 09:13:

A love child, child born of a sexual indescretion, infidelity, or just plain too many mouths to feed, these are the kinds of kids I'm talking about. I absolutely believe GIB's story as well. But some of the kids really DON'T have a house or parents that they'd take the money back to. And I don't have time to walk the kid to a store and make sure the few pesos go toward food or clothing. So if he catches me at the right time, approaches me in the right way, he may get a moneda or two if I have it. But again, it's kinda hit and miss with me.

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Lucia Rojas says on Nov 26, 2005, 11:09:

I carry crackers and apples and things like that and that is what I give them... I just cant walk by and brush it off with a story about child and beggar mafias and everything... they are still children and they whart ever reason they are in that position in that specific moment... si resloverd carrying aples, tangerines and wafers... But dont bring them from the States. You can buy them here at any supermarket...

Glad to hear you are ready for your trip! Remeber all the advice about the drinking and stuff... and have a great time!!!!

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Lucia Rojas says on Nov 26, 2005, 11:10:

sorry for all the typos.. I suck at typing.... so: for "whatever reason" and " so I resolved"

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cam0940 says on Nov 26, 2005, 11:12:

Ah yes Lucia. That may be an option. We guys aren't as fortunate being that we don't carry purses. We're pretty much limited to what fits in our pockets.

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mariasman says on Nov 26, 2005, 11:32:

A moneda or two? How about 5,000 pesos or two. That only equates to about 2 dollars and fifty cents. Come on! If you are visiting Colombia and you are there for entertainment, then, couldn't you just give up one of those beers or cappuchino's to make some poor childs day a little better. A moneda aint gonna do Sheet. I just can't help thinking that wether they have lazy parents or not, They are going to suffer regardless and who says that these kids give their parents everything anyway. Maybe you are saving them from a beating. Did you ever think of that. Yes, it is true that you can't save everybody but when you do decide that you want to be kind, atleast be kind. Put yourself in their shoes and consider yourself lucky that you have food to eat everyday and coffee to drink when you are socializing and a warm bed in the hotel to sleep in and the luxury of taxi's to take you wherever you need to go and most important, a daily shower. Remember, it could have been you. It still could.

mariasman

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DanielPaisa says on Nov 26, 2005, 13:06:

giving anything to these guys... giving anything to these guys it's useless. I'm sorry to say it like this, but if you wanna contribute with something for the kids, then give it to an institution that takes care of them My sister's a journalist, and recently, she did a study on kids from the streets. When you give them clothing, they sell it by kilos, if you give them toys, then a bigger guy will beat the hell out of them until he gets the toys. If you give them money, they'll probably won't go to school and stay like that they're whole lives.

I know it's difficult to watch this guys, and sometimes you foreigners think that we don't care. We do care, and let me tell you, giving THEM anything is useless. Wanna help? give your dollars, toys or clothing to a beneffit institution. Never directly to them, that makes the situation worse.

Cheers

Daniel, el Paisa

"You can't fight in here... this is the war room!"

Daniel, el Paisa

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DanielPaisa says on Nov 26, 2005, 13:09:

if you're gonna give something... give them food. They can't sell it, and it's a good way to help. but be warned, some of them get pissed when you give them food. That's a sign that tells you they're doing drugs. Do not give money.

Cheers

Daniel, el Paisa

"You can't fight in here... this is the war room!"

Daniel, el Paisa

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cam0940 says on Nov 26, 2005, 13:12:

He could buy an empanada for 600 pesos, if it was that serious. I do it because I know I can't fix the kid's situation, but a moneda or two is at least a token effort (no pun intended). Daniel el Paisa, it's the same situation with adult panhandlers here. If a guy happens to catch me on the right day at the right time, I may give him some change. Is it going to change the world? Or even his life? Of course not. But that problem is far bigger than me. So I give up the change and keep moving.

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morphus says on Nov 26, 2005, 13:14:

i usually buy fruits/candy from children and adults in the street if they have something good. i like those mente candies and chewing gum.

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DanielPaisa says on Nov 26, 2005, 13:16:

as any big problem... you need averyone to help so you can solve it. I also give a coin or two when i'm driving arround, the point is, we should all stop doing it. The same study my sister did, revealed that in a redlight arround el poblado, here in medellin, one kid can make up to 700K pesos a month. They won't go to school because it's good business. If we stop, maybe they'll do something with their lives.

Cheers

Daniel, el Paisa

"You can't fight in here... this is the war room!"

Daniel, el Paisa

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morphus says on Nov 26, 2005, 14:01:

maybe if they are smart they can pay for college with the money. i know a young guy thats making 1,000,000 pesos a month packing bags at Exito. he only gets paid with tips. he goes to the university at night. Exito does'nt allow anybody over 25 to work that job. it must be a deterent to keep people from trying to make a career out of it.

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Lucia Rojas says on Nov 26, 2005, 19:30:

I have had some of the really old indigentes who wouldn't want any other life tell me that they'd rather not get food, and they prefer nothing, because eating something will open up their appetites at the wrong time of the day.... the drugs help the hunger....
I have met some wondrful characters on the streets.. but you have t be careful if a teenager, ayoung boy or girl or an adult have been sniffing boxer or smoking bazuco they might get agressive and they hallucinate ..
small children whoe are selling frunas at eleven o'clock at night in stoplights welcome the apple or the crackers... the same with the families of desplazados on the semaforos, they welcome the food with a smile.

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Diez Y Siete says on Nov 27, 2005, 14:02:

I guess im just not used to it, i every once ina blue moon see a homeless person, like maybe once every other year, but i have never been approched by one, Im just the type of person that thinks i can fix everything, and i know something like this will break my heart, could i take the little kids and get them something to eat, will they get in trouble? Could i buy them clothes here for cheep from like walmart or an outlet and give it to them?

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costajunkie says on Nov 28, 2005, 21:45:

My "2 cents" I wanted to respond to this post immediately, as I have traveled throughout LA/SA and now live in Barranquilla. I have definite opinions concerning this "tema", but it seems that I have been beaten to the punch. Many people have already said pieces of what I would have said.

I make it a point to never offer up money to children. Adults, yes, sometimes... but never children. There could be a multitude of reasons why this child is doing this; however, I assume that in most cases the child is forced on to the streets by the parents when this child should be in school. This may not be the case, and sometimes it is hard saying "No, gracias" to what could be a very sweet kid... but this is the point: The child asking for money can tug at the heart-strings, playing upon your emotions, and the parent knows his! Again, if this happens to be the reason. Nevertheless, I am fairly confident that this - parents forcing the child into begging - makes up for the majority of cases. I taught ESL English, and I was told by most of my Latino students from Mexico and other Latin American countries that this is usually what is happening. Also my wife (colombiana) feels the same way, and she will never give money to the children, whereas she will do so to adults on occasions.

Also from a moral perspective, by handing your money over to the kids, you are contributing to a future generation of beggars and poor.

I must admit it is difficult at times, but really you and everyone else that does this should cease, desist, and buck up. Besides, imagine this - If you were (are) a parent and the money was tight, would you sacrifice your child's future, sending him/her out into the streets where only God knows what could happen, only to bring in a little extra change for the family?

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gringolondinense says on Nov 29, 2005, 02:27:

my own experience with street kids is that one time, a boy came up to me and said "hungry! hungry". Like that was all he could say in english. I happened to have some shopping with me. So I gave the kid some bread and a big bag of chips. He took them and ran across the street where he gave them to a guy. The guy didnt look too pleased about the food I had given.

The other time was when I was coming out of a grocery store. There were about 6 young kids. They didnt have shoes on. They asked me to money. I gave them all a small amount and I went on down the street. Of course, they went ahead of me and gave the coins to a guy who was running the racket.

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