I’ve learned a lot from Philip Greenspun’s sites ( e.g. photo.net) over the years. Recently he wondered if giving a water buffalo as a present was a bad idea, since according to the charity’s site your donation is only “symbolic” (see fine print). I went and asked some local farmers in Chuxiong, China (where I currently live) what they thought about receiving a water buffalo as a gift, and they said it would be “zui hao de liwu”, or “the best gift.”
Phil asked if I could find a way to give an actual water buffalo to an actual farmer in need, so his gift wouldn’t just be symbolic. I think I can! A water buffalo is significant to local Chinese farmers. Not only is it worth about a one year’s salary (roughly 4,000 RMB or around $510 USD), but it can help them cultivate their crops. Tending to the land is otherwise done by hand.
I’m going to see if I can get this done in the next week, and post pictures and video of the process. Stay tuned!
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after reading this story the two of us began to brainstorm about ways to help “pay it forward”. We suggest donating a large cart that could be pulled by either a person or by a beast of burden. This would enable a poor family to transport whatever goods they harvested to the market of their choosing.