Sending a Care Package

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I got the package from beautiful family friends in Sweden! They sent candy that I ate in about 5 minutes and an advent calendar of tea that will be such a nice treat everyday. Brodens, you are the best!!”

-Alex Clark

Receiving a care package as a volunteer can be a deeply meaningful experience. It's a comforting reminder of home and the unwavering support from loved ones we miss dearly. However, navigating the process of sending packages can be tricky. To help make this easier, I’ve put together this post based on my experience in Malawi. While my tips are tailored to Malawi, they can be useful for sending packages to any African country. Unfortunately, the reality is that packages sent to Africa face a higher risk of being lost, tampered with, damaged, or even stolen. But don't worry—here are some helpful tips to increase the chances of your gifts reaching their destination safely!


Tips and Tricks

Less than 10 lbs

If your package weighs over 10 pounds, be prepared for high shipping costs. Moreover, heavier packages are more prone to tampering and theft due to their perceived value.

Bible Quotes

Including Bible quotes on the outside of your package is a great way to discourage tampering. Malawi is a deeply religious country, and even potential thieves respect packages intended for missionaries or church groups. Make sure the verses are easy to read, or simply write "God is Good" in large, bold letters all over the box.

Ask Your PCV

Check with your volunteer to see what is already available in their area. You might be surprised by some of the items they can find locally. For example, I can find Snickers, Lay's chips, and even Cadbury chocolate eggs in my restock market. However, hair conditioner, wet wipes, and cheese powder are rare finds.

Condense

Sending something like mac and cheese? (One of my personal favorites.) To save space, remove the noodles and cheese packet from the box and place them in plastic bags. This reduces bulk and gives the volunteer reusable bags, which can be hard to find in-country. Pro tip: if you're sending spice bottles, put them in plastic bags too. I once had one break open and get all over EVERYTHING.

Strategic Descriptions

When sending a package internationally, you must fill out a customs form detailing its contents and value. Here's a crucial tip: be strategic with your descriptions. Instead of listing valuable items like headlamps or new shoes, describe the contents as snacks and estimate their worth at $10-$20. This makes the package less attractive to potential thieves. These boxes pass through many hands, so making the contents seem boring can protect them. Additionally, if the declared value is high, the post office may charge your volunteer a hefty fee to pick it up. One volunteer here was charged 30,000 MK instead of the usual 1,000 MK because their package was listed as valuable.

Have Patience

Packages sent to your Peace Corps Volunteer can arrive in as little as two weeks, but they might also take as long as eight months or even never arrive. Once in the country, it can be challenging for volunteers to access the main city where the package is held, pay any required pickup fees, and transport it home. Travel within the country is particularly difficult due to Peace Corps restrictions, so patience is key. Rest assured, we volunteers are just as eager to receive the items as you are to send them!


Please refrain from sending the following items to avoid issues: seeds (to prevent the spread of invasive species), weapons, perishable goods, expensive or heavy items, lithium battery items (which can explode due to heat during transport), probiotics (heat can kill the cultures), and Schrödinger's cat (for obvious reasons!).

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Care Package Ideas

  • Picture book from home that shows daily life and maps: locals enjoy seeing glimpses of daily routines and cultural aspects from your volunteer’s home

  • Cheese powder

  • Dry spice packets: like powdered ranch or taco seasoning

  • Printed pictures and letters or cards with some words of encouragement

  • Chapstick

  • Camping quick dry towel

  • Magazine or newspaper

  • Jerky or dried fruit

  • Thumb drive loaded with books, movies, etc.

  • Stickers

  • Powered drink flavors: like propel, cool-aid, hot chocolate

  • Spices: pepper can be hard to find here and most spices are really expensive

  • Dry Parmesan Cheese

  • Tortillas

  • Condiment packets: Chick-fil-A sauce is the bomb, but all others are really useful too

  • Hair oil: conditioner is hard to find and expensive, and Malawi life can be very hard on hair

  • Quality pens and markers

  • Power bars

  • T-shirt from home: one from their local sports team or favorite restaurant

Top Fav’s

I asked some current volunteers what their favorite received item was. Here are their answers:

1lb bag of sour gummy worms

huge can of cheese powder

letters from home

toys and treats for my puppy

newspaper clippings and holiday cards

hair conditioner

sour patch kids

oatmeal cream pies

fuzzy blanket

power bank

dried bacon bits

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“Hooray! My family still loves me!”

-Braden Neal