Birthday Charity Gift Guide: 10 Ideas to Change Lives

Birthdays are a wonderful chance to celebrate. They can also be an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children experiencing disadvantage and hardship. 

Here are 10 gifts that can change the life of someone in need and make your birthday unforgettable.

1. Help a family earn a living with chickens

Chickens can lay more than 200 eggs a year, providing families living in poverty with a regular source of protein for nourishment. And that’s not all. Families can sell any surplus eggs to supplement the household income. Donating a dozen chickens to a family in need is a gift that provides both food and income. 

Price: $24

2. Gift a goat to provide nutrition and income  

A glass of fresh milk is something we can easily take for granted. But for families living in poverty, dairy products are a rich source of nutrition, but can be a luxury! In addition to regular milk, breeding goats is a sustainable way for families to earn an income. So gifting a family a dairy goat can serve as a gift that keeps on giving.

Price: $99

3. Encourage schooling with basic supplies 

Attending school can be a challenge for some children, who are unable to afford basic items like pens, pencils and notebooks. By gifting a school supplies set, you can support a child in the classroom, giving them the chance to stay in school, and benefit from skills and knowledge that can help them break the cycle of poverty.

Price: $76.00

4. Help prevent malaria with a mosquito net

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that affects over 200 million people around the world, according to the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, children under the age of 5 are most vulnerable to the disease. A mosquito net is the one of the simplest and most effective preventative measures against malaria. For as little as $10 you can help prevent the spread of malaria. Price: $10

5. Stem the spread of disease with a handwashing station

The importance of washing our hands was reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. But this simple act can also prevent the spread of many other illnesses. From keeping their hands clean, to maintaining good dental health, a handwashing station can keep children in developing communities safe from infectious disease.

Price: $149

6. Sow the seeds of a better future with a gift that grows!

Fruit and vegetable seeds are a gift that keep growing and giving. Fruit and veggies are an important part of a balanced diet, and can help prevent malnourishment. In Ethiopia, for example, generous ChildFund donors have made it possible for families to grow their own fruit and earn additional income by selling surplus produce. Salamo Baloso, a farmer, says: “This has allowed me to educate my children and even build a new house for the family.” For as little as $32, you can also bring about incredible change.

Price: $32

7. Provide emergency food in times of crises

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families living in poverty lost their jobs and income, making it incredibly difficult to afford basic things like food. Displaced children and their families fleeing conflict or disaster are also often without adequate food. Your donation of $70 could help feed two families for a month during a crisis. What a life-changing difference your gift could make!

Price: $70

8. End exhausting walks to school with a bicycle and helmet 

In the remote villages of some developing countries, children have to walk more than 10 km to school. Along the way, many have to brave the scorching sun or pelting rain. By donating a bicycle and helmet for just $125, you can help children reach school safely and on time. This ultimately plays a vital role in keeping children, especially girls, in school.

Price: $125

9. Keep a child safe and help them sleep with a warm blanket and pillow 

Imagine having to sleep on a concrete slab or hard dirt floor. That’s the reality for many children living in poverty. Every child needs a comfortable bed to sleep on. You can make this happen by donating a warm blanket and pillow for just $23 (that’s probably less than the cost of your birthday meal). Wouldn’t it be nice if you could be the reason a child sleeps securely at night? Price: $23

10. Contribute to building a clean water system for an entire community!

Imagine your impact when you give the gift of clean, safe water that a whole school – or even an entire community – can rely upon.

Your gift could be combined with others to fund drilling, construction and maintenance of a complete deepwater borehole system. 

Price: $350

Make your birthday celebration more meaningful

This year, go beyond the customary birthday cake, flowers and candles to make a real impact on the lives of children the world. No gesture is too small to make a difference. 

You can read all about these unique gifts and how they’ve improved lives on our Gifts for Good page. 

Don’t forget to make your unique gifts even more special with an ecard carrying a personalised message, or a postal card with a beautiful photo and description of your chosen gift. If you’re short on time, you can also choose a PDF card that you can print anytime to make your Gift for Good unforgettable.