What to buy for a rural Ugandan family?

I work a lot in Uganda, and last year my colleague and I went to visit our drivers family. They live in a very rural village, quite far from the road and have no electricity etc...They were very hospitable towards us - they gave us a meal, bought in soda and beer and as we left they gave us gifts (a cockerel, bananas, cassava, potatoes, ground nuts, a rug etc).

This time we want to repay them with gifts, but aren't really sure what to take with us. Does anyone have any ideas? The family is quite large, including 3 generations.

thanks!

Things I was thinking about were: pencils/pens and paper, and perhaps a game like Jenga for the children.

if you go on the calendarlady website, they have gifts on there which are specifically intended for people in developing areas, such as wind up torches etc. follow this link and may God bless you for your concern


http://www.calendarlady.co.uk/shop-onlin...

Don't patronise them...take useful gifts such as biro's, pencils and paper. These are things that they may not be able to easily obtain and may seem mundane but they will appreciate them more than fancy western goods...

Pencils and paper for school / learning.

Take a cheap plastic paddling pool for the children - they will so appreciate it and it is easy to transport and doesn't cost the earth.

Can never go wrong with pens / paper / crayons / etc.
How old are the kids? Would picture books be suitable?

Also I'm assuming they are poor (?) - Never been to Uganda but generally the case in most rural African areas that lifes a bit of a struggle, if this is the case maybe food, obviously a "gift aid" sack of rice would be patronising but what about more gift-like western foods that they otherwise would never get to try like biscuits? You could give it in a more "Would you like to try a traditional food of our country" way, rather than a "You look really hungry" way. Plus I know I'm never happier than when somewhen visits me and has a pack of Jammie Dodgers with them!

Warm clothing I understand it gets very cold @ night this time of year.

Buy them a goat or some chickens (live).

If you want to be very good buy a cow.