Giving to Charity at Christmas

A few years ago I read an article about children in Africa
forced to work so they and their families can eat. What struck me most about the article was that it was in Zambia, a place where I had lived.
I had been aware of the poverty and the stark contrast between Lusaka and London. I lived in Zambia in the late seventies and during that time there was nothing much in the shops. You couldn’t buy butter and when one supermarket got it in it was rationed. You were not able to buy clothes and shoes.
This made me see things differently when on a trip home. I was able to see how much choice there was in the shops a luxury I hadn’t experienced for a while. I found it difficult at the age of 13 or 14 to then have my mother buy me clothes. Shopping was something new, strange and difficult for me. My life in Zambia had changed my outlook
it had a profound effect on me and I am forever grateful for that.
But this article jolted me it reminded me of my time there and what I
had thought and felt. Suddenly it dawned on me that either I was becoming immune to it or I was forgetting my past. Whichever it was I didn't like it so with Christmas approaching I decided I was going to do something different. So for the last couple of years instead of giving presents I have been giving to charity. I have given school starter kits, worms, seeds and tools and vegetable gardens all with Cafod’s world
gifts scheme.
The reason children are forced to work is due to poverty and the Aids virus. Some whose parents have died of Aids are cared for by grandmothers. Some orphans have lost grandparents, uncles and aunts. Children in Africa work in abandoned quarries where they pound rocks to make powder which can then be sold as a mixer for concrete. They
will receive a tiny amount for the fruits of their labour. In some
quarries they sieve through looking for electrical pieces from old televisions and other electrical goods. These can be harmful in the long term if they are not handled correctly. Which of course they aren't.
They will wade through contaminated water which will also eventually harm them.
These children that work have no real childhood and the future seems bleak. Christmas is about charity and when many of us have so much
will it really make a difference to us if we receive less presents this
Christmas, especially when we could give others who are less fortunate
a better one?
There are always those examples of where if you have food to eat, water, are warm, have clothes, are loved and so on you are fortunate. We so often can become complacent in what we do have and it is not until we haven’t got it that we really appreciate it. In a time of recession we should be looking out for others. But you don’t have to do it just at Christmas. It could be for any reason a birthday, Easter, Mother’s or Father’s day, Valentines day or anniversaries. It is also a good example to set children. You could even try to encourage them to get involved. Being able to help people have a better quality of life is something we should all be doing. It really does make a difference to those who are living in poverty. Paul Newman always claimed his charity work came about as he had been lucky and he felt he should give something back to those who weren’t so lucky.
We are now living in a world where a lot of people have become very materialistic. This is why giving a charity gift is a simple, easy way to remind us materialism is something we shouldn’t be chasing.
Someone commenting about giving charity gifts on a web site criticised those who gave in this way as people who couldn’t be bothered to choose and buy someone a proper present. Well how many Christmas presents end up at the charity shop or on eBay? Far better for you to give a present that is wanted, desperately needed and is greatly appreciated. Now how many presents can you honestly say have been given or received and actually do all those things?
If you are interested in giving a different kind of present then visit these web sites for more information then visit
www.savethechildren.sandbag.uk.com
www.oxfamunwrapped.com
worldgifts.cafod.org.uk
www.sendacowgifts.org.uk
www.farmfriends.org.uk
shop.christianaid.org.uk
© Children's Web Magazine 2006 - 2009

	Children's Web Magazine

Home	Giving to Charity at Christmas

	A few years ago I read an article about children in Africa forced to work so they and their families can eat. What struck me most about the article was that it was in Zambia, a place where I had lived. I had been aware of the poverty and the stark contrast between Lusaka and London. I lived in Zambia in the late seventies and during that time there was nothing much in the shops. You couldn’t buy butter and when one supermarket got it in it was rationed. You were not able to buy clothes and shoes. This made me see things differently when on a trip home. I was able to see how much choice there was in the shops a luxury I hadn’t experienced for a while. I found it difficult at the age of 13 or 14 to then have my mother buy me clothes. Shopping was something new, strange and difficult for me. My life in Zambia had changed my outlook it had a profound effect on me and I am forever grateful for that. But this article jolted me it reminded me of my time there and what I had thought and felt. Suddenly it dawned on me that either I was becoming immune to it or I was forgetting my past. Whichever it was I didn't like it so with Christmas approaching I decided I was going to do something different. So for the last couple of years instead of giving presents I have been giving to charity. I have given school starter kits, worms, seeds and tools and vegetable gardens all with Cafod’s world gifts scheme. The reason children are forced to work is due to poverty and the Aids virus. Some whose parents have died of Aids are cared for by grandmothers. Some orphans have lost grandparents, uncles and aunts. Children in Africa work in abandoned quarries where they pound rocks to make powder which can then be sold as a mixer for concrete. They will receive a tiny amount for the fruits of their labour. In some quarries they sieve through looking for electrical pieces from old televisions and other electrical goods. These can be harmful in the long term if they are not handled correctly. Which of course they aren't. They will wade through contaminated water which will also eventually harm them. These children that work have no real childhood and the future seems bleak. Christmas is about charity and when many of us have so much will it really make a difference to us if we receive less presents this Christmas, especially when we could give others who are less fortunate a better one? There are always those examples of where if you have food to eat, water, are warm, have clothes, are loved and so on you are fortunate. We so often can become complacent in what we do have and it is not until we haven’t got it that we really appreciate it. In a time of recession we should be looking out for others. But you don’t have to do it just at Christmas. It could be for any reason a birthday, Easter, Mother’s or Father’s day, Valentines day or anniversaries. It is also a good example to set children. You could even try to encourage them to get involved. Being able to help people have a better quality of life is something we should all be doing. It really does make a difference to those who are living in poverty. Paul Newman always claimed his charity work came about as he had been lucky and he felt he should give something back to those who weren’t so lucky. We are now living in a world where a lot of people have become very materialistic. This is why giving a charity gift is a simple, easy way to remind us materialism is something we shouldn’t be chasing. Someone commenting about giving charity gifts on a web site criticised those who gave in this way as people who couldn’t be bothered to choose and buy someone a proper present. Well how many Christmas presents end up at the charity shop or on eBay? Far better for you to give a present that is wanted, desperately needed and is greatly appreciated. Now how many presents can you honestly say have been given or received and actually do all those things? If you are interested in giving a different kind of present then visit these web sites for more information then visit www.savethechildren.sandbag.uk.com www.oxfamunwrapped.com worldgifts.cafod.org.uk www.sendacowgifts.org.uk www.farmfriends.org.uk shop.christianaid.org.uk © Children's Web Magazine 2006 - 2009
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