Get Involved

There are a few ways that you can help the locals:

Donate items of clothing, toiletries or medical aids. If you are travelling to Cape Verde, please consider bringing a suitcase of donations with you or a suitcase specifically for a family. We can apply for extra luggage allowance, so it need not affect your own allowance.
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If you are travelling to Cape Verde from the UK, but cannot donate yourself, we can send you a bag of donations to repack and transport for us. We can apply for extra luggage allowance to cater for this.

Fundraise:

Monetary donations are essential for our missions. All our staff are volunteers, so all money raised will go directly to the charity.If you can't afford to donate; have fun and hold a fundraiser event. Hold a cake sale, ask your school to have a non-uniform day, do a sponsored walk, jump out of a plane or start a crowdfunder page?
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Make a monetary donation

Eat out or visit a bar or shop

Many tourists stay in the hotels and do not see the poverty beyond the hotels. Pop into town and support the local businesses there. Cape Verde is generally a very safe country but tourism does lure people from other African countries and many of the street sellers are not Cape Verdean. As in any country, keep your personal items close to you. If you do not want to be bothered by the street sellers turn your hotel bracelet inside out, (as they can pretend they are from your hotel), or just tell them that you have been to their shop before. There is always a minority in any country, but the majority listen when you say that you are not interested.
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Donate to one family:

We can provide you with details of a family in need and your suitcase can be filled with clothing and toiletries specifically for that family. We work alongside local, public and private partners and families are assessed. We can apply for extra luggage allowance (for UK travellers) so it need not affect your own allowance. The empty suitcases are used by the families for storage.

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Bring donations or leave items behind at the end of your holiday. It can be difficult to get items onto the islands and many locals cannot afford the high price tags for basic items like clothing, toiletries and sanitary products. If you have a little space in your suitcase for some items, these would be greatly appreciated.

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If you would like to bring a whole suitcase, we can apply for extra luggage allowance (for UK travellers) so it need not affect your own allowance. Or alternatively, leave some of your clothing behind at the end of your holiday. Children’s clothing is always needed, so if your child will have outgrown their clothes or shoes by the next summer, these could be left behind for a family. Please only donate items in good condition as the refuse system is basic on the islands.

Donations

Clothing and Linen

All clothing is appreciated but please bear in mind that temperatures very rarely fall below 20 degrees. (Winter coats are not needed and take up valuable suitcase weight allowance).

  • Clothing.
  • Shoes.
  • Sandals.
  • Trainers (Sneakers).
  • Bed sheets.
  • Towels.
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    School supplies

    Fill a suitcase with school supplies and stationery. Schools get little governmental support. Families are asked to provide their own school bag with stationery. You can bring a case with school supplies that will be passed on to schools on various Cape Verdean islands. Or bring a school bag filled with stationery for a child.

    Donation Ideas

  • School bags/rucksacks
  • Pens
  • Pencils
  • Sharpeners
  • Erasers
  • Calculators
  • Rulers
  • Glue sticks
  • Sticky tape
  • Work/text books or A4/A5 paper
  • Colouring books
  • Crayons
  • Paints and brushes
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    Health and medical aids

    Health care and medicines are inadequate and expensive on the islands. Although we do not give medicines, we can help with promoting a healthy lifestyle and can provide some medical aids. All medicines donated will be passed to the appropriate authorities. Many children do not brush their teeth regularly. Tourists feel sorry for the children and give them sweets, unaware that they do not brush their teeth. On our activity events, we always try and ensure that each child gets a toothbrush and toothpaste at the end of the event.

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    At My Cape Verde, we try to encourage donors to be as eco-friendly as possible Reusable incontinence pads, reusable sanitary pads, period pants, or period cups and reusable nappies are not only better for the environment, but also save the families money longer term.

    Medical aids are expensive in Cape Verde. Wheelchairs and walking frames are in short supply if you are able to donate one that is no longer needed. Unwanted spectacles/reading glasses will be donated to health centres. The shanty towns can be very dusty and dirty. Travel cots are beneficial for keeping babies and toddlers in a cleaner environment

    Donation Ideas

  • Toothbrushes and toothpastes
  • Soaps
  • Barrier creams
  • Reusable nappies
  • Travel cots
  • Reusable sanitary pads. Period pads and period cups
  • Spectacles/reading glasses
  • Wheelchairs
  • Crutches/walking sticks
  • Zimmer frames
  • Hearing aids
  • Sports clubs and community centers

    Support a sports club/team or community centre. Many children play sports, but families cannot usually afford the correct footwear. The majority of houses are small and children are sent outside to play. Footballs, basketballs, skipping ropes etc can help keep children physically and mentally fit. Drugs and alcohol abuse can be avoided with mental stimulation. Community centres and music groups can help those less sporty.

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    Donation Ideas

  • Football kits
  • Football boots
  • Basketball/netball vests and shorts
  • Sneakers/trainers
  • Polo shirts
  • Shorts
  • Footballs
  • Basketballs
  • Hand balls
  • Volleyballs
  • Swimming aids
  • Musical instruments
  • Skipping ropes
  • Board games
  • Jigsaws