Festive decorations now adorn our streets, carols echo through shopping centres as we shop and the shelves have filled with red, green and gold. Christmas is upon us. This is a time of year when we look forward to being with friends and family and to reflecting on the year that has been.
It is also a time of year for us all to show goodwill, compassion and kindness and to remember those people less fortunate than ourselves around the world. In the rush to get everything done, it is easy to lose sight of this real meaning of Christmas.
One way to make Christmas more meaningful this year is to consider World Vision gifts. One of the questions we face at this time is what to buy someone who has everything? The World Vision gifts catalogue offers a range of unique gifts that are easy to match to the interests of your friends and family. So you can get “a bag of seeds’ for a gardening enthusiast or “a bicycle for a teacher’ for a keen cyclist. These gifts are then provided to communities in need and you receive a card to give to your friend or family member with a picture of the gift and a description of how they are helping improve the lives of the poorest people around the world.
This year we have expanded our range of gifts to include toys for children in disaster areas – we all love the look on a child’s face when they receive a toy for Christmas, so why not bring that same joy to a child living through a natural disaster or conflict? With gifts starting at $5, there really is something for everyone. I hope this is something that will appeal to the people of Armidale.
Another way to celebrate Christmas is to consider sponsoring a child. Child sponsorship is a long-term gift that makes a world of difference to a child and their community in need.
Take for example eight-year-old Einoti from Tanzania. Thanks to Australian sponsors, Einoti’s village now has access to clean water. This has transformed Einoti’s life bringing huge health benefits to her and her family and also ensuring she doesn’t have to walk 13 kilometres each day to collect water. This means she can go to school and doesn’t live with the daily fear of wild animals and sexual predators which she used to encounter on the long walk. Einoti now has the opportunity to be protected, to have a childhood, and a better future.
We all hope for a better future and 2011 was a year where many people’s lives at home and around the world were affected by disasters. In the many moments of sadness that these disasters brought, I continue to be thankful for the extraordinary generosity shown by Australians to those in urgent need. As the year draws to a close, I am particularly mindful of the ongoing plight of the 13 million people in East Africa affected by severe drought in the region. I hope and pray they will not be forgotten.
I wish all the people of Armidale a joyful Christmas.
Tim Costello
Chief Executive
World Vision Australia
