Money Matters
Pocket Money
The cost of your trip will already be covered by the time you get to your destination and our field coordinator will handle all team trip expenses including food and drink.
You will need to convert money on the first day through our field co-ordinator into local currency (shillings) for personal items, souvenirs and offerings. Bring cash only, since credit card facilities and cash machines are comparatively rare and not always available. As a guide, we suggest you bring at least £80 or $150 for gifts to take home and local church offerings if you are able.
If coming from the UK, ₤10, ₤20 and ₤50 notes are acceptable. Do not bring any coins.
If coming from Europe, Euros can be exchanged.
If coming from the USA or the rest of the world, bring US Dollars and nothing smaller than US$50 bills. Please note that $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills produce a very unfavourable exchange rate. Foreign exchange bureaus are particularly fussy about US Dollar bills because it is an international currency and there are counterfeits in circulation so you must bring bills younger than 1999. They will refuse bills dated 1996. Please do not take this advice lightly because you will be disappointed.
Responding to the Poor
Seeing so much poverty may cause some culture shock. Our instinctive reaction is to alleviate it wherever possible. Actually this is impossible because there is so much. It is better to have a measured, planned response as a team.
This touches on the area of money and personal giving. It needs to be thought about before you come. Team members are often highly motivated to give to individuals they encounter on the trip.
We suggest that the most effective way a team can alleviate suffering is by pooling individual gifts towards an agreed burden of consensus within the team. We have information about specific projects and needs, which can easily be communicated on request. Whether gifts are given individually or as a team, we sincerely ask that you take advantage of our understanding of the culture and our close working relationship with the local leadership and allow us to mediate any gifts on your behalf.