Well, if that’s isn’t an odd title, I don’t know what is.
You see, I’ve taken to sponsoring a child. And the only thing I can send her are cards and anything flat. So, I’ve already gotten some stickers, a bookmark, some various crafts that are basically just on paper, a banner for her birthday and little mini calendars that I can cut the pictures out of. I also know tiny books and tattoos would work, as well as a small handkerchief as long as it’s not folded. But beyond those things, I’m out of ideas.
Do they still make slap bracelets? Anything else that might work? I’m also on a budget (the stuff I’ve bought so far has been less than $10), but am pretty much agreeable to whatever anyone could come up with.
Further details… she is 16 and lives in Rwanda. Her activities seem pretty limited (not much besides her lessons and church), so there’s no favorites or hobbies to work from. What say ye, Dopers? Help me help her out.
PS. I hate to add this, but could we please refrain from anyone griping at me about what a scam these places are. I checked it out thoroughly and it has one of the highest ratings, and lowest overhead, on Charity Navigator. Also, as someone who has been helped endlessly by the kindness of strangers (and others), my life now is at least partially focused on passing that forward. I’m sure what little bit of discretionary income I have could be put to better use, but let’s please save that for another thread. Thanks.
Just brainstorming… this begs the question “how flat is flat”. Also I have no idea what a 16 year old in Rwanda would really like.
Yes, they still make slap bracelets
Trading or game cards Liquid crystal sheet
“Optic” bookmark or card–picture changes when you change the angle
Stencils
Sticks of chewing gum
A handkerchief stuck with sewing needles pre-threaded with colored embroidery floss, for her to embroider-her-own (if she knows how)
Paper dolls
Sheets of sun print paper
Glow-in-the-dark stars
Origami paper
Necklaces that are flat pendants on slender chains
Flat makeup samples–gloss and eye shadow sometimes come pretty flat
Samples of lotion, moisturizer etc that come in plastic sleeves
Do magazines still have flat perfume samples in them?
Tea bags
Fruit leather
I thought of sewing patterns but that might be pointless if she doesn’t have access to a sewing machine.
Does she speak English? Perhaps some crossword puzzle pages?
Picture postcards
Just pretty photos in general
Little squares of pretty material. I can remember covering notebooks in high school with cloth squares to look like a quilt. Just needed some glue and the cloth pieces.
You could look for some of those MetalWorks or Metal Earth models. They’re pretty cheap and come in a package of flat sheets and they’re fairly simple to put together without tools or glue. The instructions don’t require any reading either. They sell them at Barnes & Noble or amazon or numerous other stores online.
Why flat–just so it can fit in a standard envelope? Would seed packets work? Origami paper is pretty, cheap and can be used for other crafts, too (assuming you could send enough to be worthwhile). What about ribbons or other notions that could be used in hair or sewn on clothing? Hmm. Fingernail stickers.
For variety, you could also print out nifty things she might enjoy, maybe typesetting them nicely with a cool border or art, if that’s your thing. Sewing or craft patterns. Instructions for games. Recipes. Poems or inspirational stories. Puzzles or brain teasers.
I think what you’re doing sounds really cool, actually.
Awww, guys, these are all wonderful! And The reason they gave for only flat things is that it’s easier to mail with the postage they’ll run it through. See, we mail them out cards, etc., and then they send it on to our sponsored child; that way, we only have to pay regular shipping within the states. We can also send them money, up to $100 dollars a year as a gift, on four occasions (birthday, Christmas and two “just because”).
I really love the thought of samples. What young girl (mostly) wouldn’t love the idea of getting makeup and the like when she’s never had it before? I’m also going to definitely be on the look out for trading cards and paper dolls. However, I’m gonna hafta Google fruit leather. Sounds interesting.
I’m not sure if she speaks anything other than her native language. I’m sure that’s something I’ll be learning in the days ahead. But stuff like puzzle pages would be great, as well as anything she can learn from or have fun with.
I also have that light bulb thingie! So, now I think I’ll just pass it on. Just such wonderful, wonderful suggestions. I knew I could count on you guys. Thank you so much!!
Elemenopy, that’s so kind of you to say. When I decided to do this, we got to meet a person who’d previously been in the program. Because of just one person sponsoring them monthly, they were eventually able to go off to college here in the states, get their master’s degree and ultimately got to go back home to help others with it. Just amazing.
[If anyone is interested in checking any of this out, send me a PM and I’ll fill you in on the details.]
Embroidery floss
Beach ball (uninflated)
Fruit belts (dried fruit in single strips–avail at Trader Joes)
Fake mustaches
Whoopee cushion
Rubber bands
Dollar bills
Packets of anything (koolaid, fun dip, lotion, perfume, ibuprofen (if allowed), etc)
One thing to consider or find out - sometimes people from backgrounds like this don’t see items as usable or disposable the same way we do here in the first world.
As an example, a church group I was part of once sent a bunch of Sunday-school type workbooks to a church in Kazakhstan. We were a little surprised when they told us how nice the workbooks were and how they made sure to photocopy any pages they wanted to use so that they didn’t mess it up. As Americans, we just assumed they’d hand out the books and start writing/coloring/folding them up, but they saw these little $3 workbooks as valuable items to be preserved.
It’s just a fruit roll-up, but packaged flat. Target sells them under their Archer Farms brand, I think. My daughter loves 'em. More sugar than fruit, I’m pretty sure, but quite definitely flat.
Fake mustaches would be awesome! As well as a beach ball and packets of Koolaid. Soooooo neat!
dracoi, that’s such a good point. At the present at I went to that convinced me to do this, they had stories and illustrations of that very thing. For example, since they encourage sending cards, they talked about how this particular young lady carried her first birthday card around forever, showing it to anyone she could. Why? Only rich people over there celebrate because eve such a trivial thing costs too much and it would be seen as a waste of time. All over something that probably didn’t cost more than a few bucks at most. It’s just incredibly sad… on what they don’t have / get to experience and what we all waste or take for granted.
And totally duh! for me on the fruit leather. They’re just always roll-ups to me.
For the rest of you jokers, I’ll keep AFC footballs, ex-girlfriends and roadkill for the advanced child sponsoring. That’ll take a bigger envelope.
and it would be seen as a waste of time. All over something that probably didn’t cost more than a few bucks at most. It’s just incredibly sad… on what they don’t have / get to experience and what we all waste or take for granted.