Tepso Tours - Pack for a Purpose

Pack for a Purpose does not condone visiting orphanages, as this can often lead to negative impacts on children. The accommodation or tour company working with the orphanage will deliver the supplies in a coordinated and respectful way so that the children can benefit from them. Your generosity is not diminished because you do not interact with the children.

Project

Shines Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit NGO formed in Uganda benefitting 320 children from 0-17 years of age. The foundation provides social support, education, and health care for orphans, street children, refugee children, and children with HIV/AIDs.
The Foundation’s vision is to create a society where families and communities are socially and economically empowered to observe and protect the rights of children and provide them equal access to education, health care, and shelter for sustainable development.

An asterisk (*) before an item indicates this item is most urgently needed.

Needs

General School Supplies:
*Book Bags, *Chalk, *College-Ruled Paper, *Colored Construction Paper, *Colored Pencils, *Compasses, *Crayons, Dry-Erase Markers, Glue Sticks, Pencils, Pens, Rulers, Solar Calculators, Solar Lantern Lights and Wide-Ruled Paper

Reference Materials:
(English) Dictionaries

Flash Cards:
(English) Alphabet, Math, and Word

Hesperian Health Guides:
(English) *Where There Is No Doctor, *Where There Is No Dentist, *Disabled Village Children, *Helping Children Who Are Blind, and *Helping Children Who Are Deaf

Computer Hardware/Software:
Flash Drives/Memory Sticks, *Mobile Phones, Printers, *Solar-Powered Working Laptops, *Tablets, and *Working Laptops

Educational Games/Toys:
Bananagrams, Chess Sets, Connect Four, Puzzles, Scrabble, and Stuffed Animals/Soft Toys

Music Instruments:
*Castanets, *Cymbals, *Guiros, *Harmonicas/Kazoos, *Maracas, *Recorders, *Tambourines, *Triangles, and *Xylophones

Sports/Outdoor Activity:
Frisbees, Inflation Pumps, Jump Ropes, *Netball/Basketballs, *Soccer Balls, *Team Uniforms/Kits for Soccer, *Tennis Balls, and Whistles

First Aid:
*Antibiotic Ointment, Band-Aids, and Plastic Gloves

Clothing/Shoes:
New Bras, New or Gently Used Children’s Clothing, New or Gently Used Children’s Shoes, and New Underwear

Linens:
Bath Towels, Bed Linens, Light Blankets, Linen Sets, Mosquito Nets, and Pillows

Health/Personal Grooming:
Bars of Soap, Combs, Deodorant, Hair Brushes, Hair Pins and Elastic Hair Bands, Hand Cream, Multivitamin Tablets, Reading Glasses of Assorted Strengths, Sanitary Napkins, Shampoos, Tampons, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Vaseline, and Washing Powder

Medications:
Antibiotics, Folic Acid, *Ibuprofen, *Malaria Treatment (Coartem), and Oral Rehydration Salts

Initiatives Supported

Child Welfare

All the needs are current as of May 17, 2022

Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.

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Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.

Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.

How to Pack