Everywhere you go in Morocco you see little boys playing soccer. Usually their balls are beat up or totally deflated. Often they use tin cans or boxes. A new ball is almost unheard of -- who indeed can afford the $7-10 dollars for such a thing. So, rather than pennies or chocolates or small balls, I got my driver to take me to a walmart equivalent and bought about 8 inexpensive soccer balls. Everywhere we saw kids playing without a proper ball, we stopped, and the driver lined them up, got them to agree on how to share and who would be in charge -- and left behind a beaming group of young men, who knew on that "the American" bought them a soccer ball. I truly urge you to pass this one while you are there, even if you only do one.
Unfortunately I never came up with anything as good for girls. Jump ropes, jacks, and yes they do love pens (they cost a LOT there) and small notebooks are true treasures... but in most places where I was , the girls don't play outdoor sports.
Perhaps you can't afford much and this trip is for you, as it was for me, a once in a lifetime... but when you get there, and you see the poverty, you will be glad to have brought a few things to give away. The money I spent was a lot for me, but the smiles of joy were far more payment than I deserved.
TF
Balls of Peace in Morocco
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Ah, so you have returned to Fodors ! Please write a TR. We gave you a lot of pre-trip advice and would like to hear how your trip turned out. Thanks.
LOL. That's the problem... so much information and so little time. You might see that I have given advice to several people along the way... But I have finally decided to do a few short ones as the only way it will ever get done...
Regards!
We've done this and it is a terrific suggestion. We purchased several (8-12) soccer balls on ebay prior to our trip. They arrive deflated and pack fairly well. Then - with the help of a hand pump - we can gift a soccer ball fairly quickly. We even gave them in really remote villages in the High Atlas. Actually for the girls I had done some dollar store shopping with nail polish and lip gloss and bracelets. And - in a few villages we gave the girls groups soccer balls. Don't know how they worked it out later.
great idea! I'm leaving for Morocco in 2 weeks and will bring some souvenirs for the kids