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| Image obtained from Google |
I met a lady and her family through church, and as we were talking, she told me how she sends clothes, shoes, and other items back in Kenya and asks a relative to donate the items to churches in the village she comes from. I listened to her a little bit more as I was looking to find out how she sends those items back home. Unfortunately, it only happens when someone is going back to Kenya and is willing to take an extra bag with them.
I would never advice anyone to go with an extra bag for anyone else especially if they don't know what has been put in the bag. There is the issue of drug trafficking and that's one of the reasons I don't take extra bags for people unless they buy a new bag and everything else new and have those items sent to my address by a courier.
A lot of people here give to Goodwill and other non profit organizations, it's an easy way to get rid of the excess stuff in the house, as well as to get a tax refund. But I know a lot of Tanzanians who wish they could send items back home to help the genuine non profit organizations like orphanages and others that help women and children, but the challenge lies in how they can go about it without 1st worrying about how much they will pay for the items to be sent home, and secondly, will they be charged tax on the items they want give for donation?
I am just thinking out loud here, would it not be beneficial to have a Tanzania logistics company work out a way to transport for a small fee from each person that gives their items for donations. I am guessing if each person pays about $50 - $100 and everyone from across the United States gets to donate, the company will make a good chunk of money to cover transportation costs, then they could work out an agreement with the government and customs agents and clearing agents to make sure the items get in the country tax free, but also give a report on the places where the donations have been made to avoid tax evasion.
I know many people are thinking about this, we just wish something could actually be done. I don't know much about oversees transportation business, but I believe something can be done, 'where there is a will, there is a way'.
