What do you wish for this Christmas? A pair of GHDs? The X-box 360? The new iPod Nano?

Or what about water that’s safe to drink? What about textbooks to aid your education? What about essential medicines?

In Britain we take these things for granted. But for people in third world countries, these items are desperately needed. For example, clean water. More than 25,000 people die every day as a result of water-borne diseases. Treatable illnesses, such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition can become life-threatening when combined with poverty, poor sanitation and inadequate health care. Of the 57 million people worldwide who died last year, 10.5 million of them were children less than five years old. The majority of these children — some 98 percent — were in developing nations.

Around this time every year I’m sure that you, like others, will feel pangs of guilt when you’re opening presents in your stocking, or sitting down to the traditional Christmas feast. Maybe you’re one of the people who does something about it…or maybe you’re not. If the latter is the case, perhaps that you feels that this is your year to make a difference.

At Oxfam, a new campaign has been launched called “Oxfam Unwrapped.” Pick up a catalogue today, and you’ll find lots of “famously funusual gifts”; from toilets to a market stall, or an emergency shelter or a teacher’s kit. Alternatively, clean water would make a great gift; with water filters, taps stands and tanks to supply water to up to 1,000, there is a gift you could give to someone to save lives.

In school, several tutor groups have been raising money for the campaign, with an outbreak of sponsored waxings, silences, car washing and collecting.
Once you’ve chosen your gift, choose a gift card. Then order online, by post, telephone or in an Oxfam shop. You will receive a fridge magnet and card describing your gift, which will go where it’s needed the most!

So if you can’t think of anything to get your parents this year, how about spending that money on getting a gift that will contribute towards eradicating poverty and suffering? It could save lives.

Find out more about Oxfam’s Christmas Unwrapped campaign.

Happy Christmas.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 at 10:03 pm in the articles column. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply