It’s better to buy a book from a book stand at the side of the road where the money goes directly to helping the poor. Or stay at guesthouses where 10 or 20% of the profits go to them. Or sometimes there are art galleries which have paintings the children have done where you buy one for $4 and the children get half of the money. Even in the touristy areas where there are lots of beggars, some of the children make more money there to give to their mothers than their mother’s would make at a real job. And these kids aren’t going to school as a result. So therefore it’s a much better idea to support the organizations rather than just handing over money. Or even giving food is much better than money.