Thanks for your mail Linda and I have to totally agree with Mike and Irene. I have lost so much in the post to Kenya its heartbreaking. My Christmas presents via DHL took 3 weeks to clear customs. DHL basically just washed their hands of it as it was outwith their control.
However sometimes packages get through by normal post and even today my fiance got my parcel in 7 days with no customs to pay. It depends on who you know.
Like my fellow moderators I would agree to send money and I have always used Western Union. They have now opened up a new service to Kenya which is called MPESA and you can send money to a friends mobile phone and they can collect within minutes in Kenya. I have not tried it from Scotland but I have seen it in operation in Kenya and its very efficient and secure.
Good luck with your intentions for the childrens school supplies. My heart breaks when I drive in Kenya at close of school day and the youngsters shout 'Hi Mzungu, how are you'......and I know that they dont have much even for the next day.
Regards
Archie
Apr 05, 2010
packages to samburu village by: Linda
Thank you for your advise. I've contacted the agency that booked our travel to see if they have someone going by the Samburu village soon and we'll send cash to help out the school. It's so hard to see people with so little when we have so much, so we'll try to join some organizations and see what we can do.
Apr 05, 2010
Sending parcels to Kenya by: Mike W
Totally agree with Linda; not worth the trouble of sending those kind of items.
Better to send the money and get someone to buy the items there - helps the local economy too.
I have sent a parcel myself, containing an item you cannot buy in Kenya but it was very expensive to send by DHL, got held up in customs for what seemed like ever and the duty at the other end was ridiculous (approx. 30% of the value of the goods). I even had to send the money to pay for the fees at the other end...
Apr 03, 2010
Help by: Irene O
Dear Linda,
Ii is kind of you that you want to help by sending chalks and pencils etc to Kenya but honestly it is not recommended.
First of all to sent parcels to Kenya is always a risk. Many times they open it at the post office and the receiver is paying charges which can be really a problem cause it is often not worth at. I remember once we received a parcel for our orphanage and it was opened up at the post office and we had to talk for long not to be charged.
The best you can do is to give money to someone travelling to Kenya and let them buy it there. It is cheaper to buy the pencils and chalks in Kenya.
If you need our help you can ask the webmaster for my details or check the website www.lionesscubshome.com
