Volunteer in Africa

Hi AndyThe need to give back in Africa seems be growing and I can understand why, especially as we get increasing indications of how badly we've mistreated the earth over the last couple of hundred years – climate change effects, strange weather, floods and droughts. All of which tends to be just inconvenient in the west at the present time (with big exceptions like the horror of Katrina), but routinely wipes out thousands of homes and lives in the poorer parts of the world. But what can people actually do? It's pretty shameful that Marc and Taia should make a trip all the way to Togo only to find that the orphanage they were going to do voluntary work at isn't an orphanage at all. But at least they can go home again and return presumably to their regular lives. That go-home-again option isn't open to an African migrant who somehow manages to get on one of those overloaded boats off Senegal or Mauritania and makes it into the EU. Assuming they don't drown, once they're in they're in, working in the underground economy, Western Union-ing their wages home to the family. That isn't really any more of a solution to Africa's poverty than sending money to charities, or doing some voluntary work in Africa. It's all just sticking plaster. What Africa most needs, in order for it to work properly, is fair payment for its exports. Take chocolate for example. Cocoa farmers routinely exploit labourers, including children, paying them next to nothing, or even literally nothing apart from food and a place to sleep. Why? Because they receive such low prices on the world market, controlled by the big importers and manufacturers. People can help without giving to charity or volunteering in Africa by buying fairtrade chocolate, and by actively avoiding brands and companies that don't promote it. And the same applies to coffee, tea and any other product for which a fair trade variety is available. Some people might think that won't make a difference, that such actions and boycotts are too small. But people said that about the Atlantic slave trade – it was part of the system, the profits were too great to ban it, and so on. But it did cease. Campaigners ended it. Bottom line? The rich world is living at the expense of the poor and we need to alter the balance.Richard Trillohttp://theroughguidetokenya.blogspot.comhttp://theroughguidetothegambia.blogspot.comhttp://theroughguidetowestafrica.blogspot.comDiscount flights with profits to development: www.northsouthtravel.co.uk

I thought of another way to volunteer in Togo or West Africa that would could be done by one person on a one one one basis.Have a few of the hand powered bikes made for cripples and give directly to the person. Even if they sold them, the only real use is for good.Photos take in Niger Africa Hand powered wheelchair