Luggage Donation Guide: Three Ways to Get Supplies to the Children.
You do not have to fly to Ghana to help. Fund supplies bought locally, ship them to our Elmina office, or carry a small amount in your own luggage. Here is how each route works and what to expect.
Three Ways to Donate Supplies
Customs rules in Ghana change, and officers assess each traveller and each parcel on its own facts. Whichever route you choose, please contact us before you buy, pack or post anything so we can tell you what is needed and how to avoid problems at the border.
1. Fund Local Purchases
SimplestGive a gift and our team buys the items from local suppliers in Ghana. There is no border crossing, no customs and no shipping delay, and the money stays in the local economy. Items can be matched to what a specific school has asked for.
Fund suppliesSecure, encrypted checkout via Paystack — opens in a new tab so you keep your place on this page.
2. Ship to Our Elmina Office
Send books, school bags and stationery by door-to-door courier. Donors abroad already do this for us. Ask us for the delivery address and instructions first. Label the parcel as a donation for the Foundation. Couriers and customs may still assess the parcel, and any charges are set at the time of delivery.
3. Carry a Small Amount
If you are already travelling, you can bring a small amount of light items for the schools. Customs officers decide case by case. New items bought abroad can be taxed, and several of the same item may be treated as a commercial quantity. We cannot promise clearance. Ask us before bringing laptops, tablets or more than a few of any one item.
What to Pack: Needed Supplies
Whichever route you choose, please check this list with us first. Electronics must come with their charging cables. Local purchase can cover most of these items.
Digital & ICT Hardware
For our Breman and Elmina computer labs.
- Working laptops (with power adapters)
- USB flash drives (16GB - 64GB)
- Wired optical USB computer mice
- Tablets & e-readers in good condition
Literacy & Storybooks
For classroom libraries and reading clubs.
- British English phonics & decodable books
- Primary illustrated storybooks
- Illustrated children’s dictionaries
- Flashcards (phonics, alphabet, maths)
Classroom Essentials
Items pupils frequently lack for daily study.
- Mathematical geometry sets
- Scientific calculators (JHS & SHS)
- Coloured pencils, markers, and sharpeners
- Sturdy school backpacks
Sports & First Aid
Recreational health and school safety.
- Deflated footballs with hand pumps
- School first aid kits (plasters, antiseptic)
- Toothbrushes & dental care packs
- Clean, reusable sanitary wear packs
Please Do Not Pack
In accordance with our community agreements and child welfare protocols, we respectfully request that travellers do not pack:
- Sweets, candy, or individual snack gifts: Distributing sweets fosters unhealthy dependency and creates dental health challenges in communities without routine dentists.
- Outdated Western school textbooks: Syllabuses from European or US schools do not align with Ghana Education Service (GES) examination standards.
- Faulty or obsolete electronics: Bringing discarded desktop towers or non-functional devices transfers e-waste disposal burdens onto rural Ghanaian circuits.
How Your Gift Reaches the Children
Tell Us Your Plan
Use the form on this page to say whether you want to fund, ship or carry, and what you have in mind. A member of our team will reply.
We Confirm What Is Needed
We tell you which items the schools need now, how many, and the best route for them. If you plan to ship or carry, we also explain what to expect at customs.
Delivery to Elmina
Shipped parcels and carried items go to our Elmina office (22 Dutch Cemetery Street). Locally bought items are collected from suppliers by our team.
Handover to the Schools
Items are recorded and handed to the schools. We will let you know when they have been delivered.