My mate from work is off to the Congo to do a VSO type thing, any ideas of what I can get her as a present.

Was thinking of a Leatherman but is that to blokey and male.

Rape alarm

A jumbo box of contraceptives…

On a slightly less serious note – does she have a camera? If so, does she have a multimedia card reader? I have no idea what technology they have in Africa (I'm assumign the major cities have everything we do), but if she needs access to her photos quickly (to upload or email) then a multicard reader might be handy as it can get plugged into any PC/Mac and allow her access to the files? Going to somewhere like Africa, I'd expect to take a lot of pictures of everything…

A big gun…….. keep the locals and wildlife at bay….

It's a shame the AIDS vaccine hasn't been perfected yet, it'd be ideal.

wind up torch( especially one with a stand for reading and stuff)/radio.
Solar gizmo/gadget/battery charger.

Gorilla-sized condoms

A tilley hat

Um bongo
they drink it in the Congo

something like this?

Big box of pencils/crayons/pens for the kids

Portable water filter,Insect Net,Camelbak……

I would not take anything for kids as it makes them think westerners should always be giving..and can cause lots of hassle

Depends what VSO work she is doing, if it's something hands on then I think a Leatherman's is a good idea and probably not something that a chick would buy themselves.

how much cash have you got?

The best bit of kit I reckon is a Sony ICF-SW100 radio.
http://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/portable/0111.html

amazing bit of kit. pricey on eBay though 🙁

other SW radios can be bought but try and avoid really cheap chinese ones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/frequencies/index.shtml

A travel plug, like this one

http://www.lifeventure.co.uk/htm/washgear/travel-bath-sink-plug.html

Possibly the most useful thing you can travel with.

mossie net, led maglite & camelbak were the things my misses found most useful in kenya. failing that, offer to pay for a cool trip whilst she's there? (I'm thinking hot air ballooning, gorilla treking, diving if she's near the coast, etc)

an alternitive, one of these –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_FONE_F3

has near 11 days battery life – designed for life in developing countries

A travel plug…Is the dysentry THAT BAD?

https://powertraveller.com/

solar power monkey?

Headtorch? Unless she's already into the outdoors then most people don't really know about them and I think they're a lot more practical than handhelds. A Leatherman type thing is also good but a bit useless if she already has one (I currently have about 3). Otherwise those rugged compartmentalised washbags (with small mirror) are pretty useful, or a passport/important documents wallet (I have a good one from Nomad).

money belt or hidden wallet
then she can pay bribes using dummy wallet………….

AK47, can buy from most markets over there for $10.00

AK47, can buy from most markets over there for $10.00

I think you're missing the point of VSO.

Gerber Crucial comes in nice colours and is a bit less macho. Still very useful.

Alpkit Bulb (and/or a headtorch) is very useful if she'll likely be staying or working anywhere without electric lights.

a bicycle

A small tiny miniature pipe in case she has to win favour with a difficult child.