It is always great to be able to give to others. As a Muslim, we have been taught by the Prophet Muhammad, “When there is a Muslim who plants (trees), and from their fruits the human beings or the beasts or birds eat, it would be taken as an act of charity on the Day of Resurrection.”
That means that when you are able to contribute something, you are not only committing the act (e.g. buying a water filter), but the people and environment are also able to benefit from it on a long term basis. Through the safe drinking water, you are making that family stronger and healthier; they are better able to assist and contribute to the whole community. Maybe the child of that family will become a carpenter and build advanced shelter. Or he or she could have had the strength and ability to travel into the city to get an education and advocate for recognition of issues facing indigenous communities; whereas he/she could not have done that being infected from a young age with contaminated drinking water.
Of course my example is an exaggeration so that you get the idea, but nevertheless it’s a possibility and often a reality. Therefore, you understand, based on what you donate, the whole community can benefit from your charity or donation. This is called ‘sustainability’ or ‘sustainable donations’.
I have always been committed to the type of charity that has long-term, ongoing benefits for large groups of people. In Arabic, this is called “Sadaqah Jariyah”
When you go to such communities, I do not recommend taking candy for the children, or just loaves of bread, but perhaps you might take the following:
-water purification tablets (can be bought in Cusco)
-scissors
-blankets
-frying pans
-cooking utensils
-plastic storage containers
-hammer
-nails
-clothing material/textile
-shoes
Again, consider things that can be used over a long period of time or by a number of people.
-hammer
-nails
-clothing material/textile
-shoes
Again, consider things that can be used over a long period of time or by a number of people.
As for me, though it is not much, I am taking textile (thick materials from which they can sew clothes for children), pot spoons, tongs, ziploc bags, knives, water purification tablets and bars of soap, toothbrushes, pencils and crayons.
