Being asked for money in Malawi

Krista offers these reflections from her last trip:

I think people in the InterPlay Malawi group would benefit from some kind of group orientation about how to respond to the heart pulls and confusion they may feel when asked over and over again for help from Malawi villagers. Masankho’s sister has some very clear guidelines when people ask her for money. She tends to feel that handouts do nothing to help people become more self-reliant and independent. She might create a work project for someone who is in need and then pay him for the work. She prefers to direct her money to organizations that work for the common good of many rather than the saving of one. Personally, I am responding in both ways – on a personal basis with a few people and through a non-profit foundation (KUDO) for most of my focus. I think some psychic/psychological protection would be helpful to Malawi travelers as well as some “prayers” asking for the wisest way to respond to the situations that will come up. The village people are compelled to ask for help. I do not fault them in the least. And they, too, have misunderstandings about America. I have a number of pen pals in Africa who continue to request assistance for a variety of needs from health care to education to cell phones and DVD’s!