Wrong! Candy has more smile maximizing potential than school supplies. And considering that a smile does wonders to your own health (and theirs), more than enough to offset potential damage to the recipient’s teeth, I highly recommend giving candy.
Well, I don't want to be so presumtous as to call you "wrong!" back.
but let me try share my experience and then, maybe you... well what ever...
Sure, candy, sugar, sweets and fatty chocolaty treats will put a smile on most kids... even obese ones.
The fact however is, sweets is not really the most lacking thing in a Dominican kid's life... even a poor one's. We have sweet fruits many can pick for free at all seasons and then, if all fails, there's always sugar cane for that little carb rush.
Fact is, after the sugary treat is consumed, and hopefully the dental hygiene has followed, even if per chance there was no running water at that exact moment, the smile will fade and nothing good from it will be left, except the growing believe that Gringos come from a country which has lots'a sweets... which isn't necessarily untrue. But is that really the most needed message?
I think that some will still have the privilege to find out, that Dominican kids, especially poor ones, will reward most any attention given to them with a great big smile. They are not the spoiled brats from other countries, which take school supplies for granted and thus would find the gift of such articles utterly insulting.
At the end of the day, school supplies, intelligent toys and your TIME will leave a lasting and positive impression... including lots'a BIG smiles.
I insist! Give the treats personally, while looking directly at the recipients eyes. Give what produces more smiles. Do not limit your gifts to a particular age group of kids, like school age or school-attending kids.
I wholeheartedly agree.
But then:
Again, candy does not produce bad teeth or diabetes, poor higiene and health does. In such a case, you should consider distributing kits containing toothbrushes and paste...
OMG! :tired:
Sugar-diabetes, sugar-caries, a conspiracy theory?
Yes, please distribute bush and paste sets. Really! But don't offset your good deed with blessing kids here with nothing smarter than candy.
Try to share constructiveness when trying to make a difference when coming here form a more "developed" country.
... J-D.