ThisWorld Children’s Day, on 20 November, is a special day for ChildFund Australia and the children and young people we work with. It’s a day to promote and protect children’s rights, and recognise the challenges that children around the world face – and the many ways we can continue to support them and their communities to break down these barriers.
Children around the world want a better future
We have reached the halfway point to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. While change is happening, we’ve lost momentum in improving the lives of people and the planet. There is still more work to be done to address our collective health, safety and wellbeing, especially for children.
To better understand these challenges, we asked young people around the world about standing up against injustice and what changes they want to see in their communities.
“Youth are the changemakers of a nation. They can stand up for themselves and exercise their rights as young people in their society. They are free to do anything that they feel can benefit the country. Young people have the power to bring change.”
Silvania, 17, Timor-Leste
Silvania, 17, Timor-Leste
“I want to see young people in my community learn how to use the Internet to have a positive mindset in all situations and constantly improve themselves to achieve their dreams. Currently, the Internet has a lot of bad information, and many different temptations that make young people behave negatively and forget about their studies. I hope country leaders and international organisations will always care about children and have interventions to give us a healthy online environment to develop.”
Hong, 16, Vietnam
Hong, 16, Vietnam
“I would like to see an end to child abuse, drug abuse, child trafficking, and cigarette usage among children and teens in my community. I would also like to see parents recognise their children rights, uphold those rights, and support their children’s development.“
Sovanpanha, 13, Cambodia
Give a gift that changes children’s lives
To celebrate the 2023 World Children’s Day theme – For every child, every right – we’ve rounded up some of our most impactful charity Gifts for Good that help support children’s rights, including the right to clean water and food, and the right to an education.
For less than $100, you can make a difference to the lives of young people this World Children’s Day with the greatest gift of all – a safe and healthy childhood. And with Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit and give back by choosing meaningful charity gifts that have a lasting positive impact. Here are some of our top picks from our Gifts for Good catalogue that won’t break the bank this Christmas.
Children with disabilities have the right to enjoy the magic of childhood without worrying about being able to move from point A to B. Donating a walker could help a child get to school, be with their peers and receive an education. Your gift will support a child with greater freedom, independence and resilience for a brighter future.
Many parents can’t afford the essentialsthat their child needs to excel in school. When you donate a set of school supplies, your charity gift provides a young student with pens, pencils, notebooks, and other stationery that they can use in the classroom. Plus, a handy backpack to carry them in!
Did you know that children are more vulnerable to losing body heat than adults? It’s important that children are kept warm and snug. Yet too many children living in poverty don’t have enough warm clothing. Donating a jacket can help protect a child’s health and wellbeing as temperatures in many places around the world start to dip.
Every two minutes, somewhere in the world, a child dies from malaria. Countless more suffer needlessly from this devastating — and preventable — disease in remote and rural areas. Your gift of an insecticide-treated mosquito net is one of the most cost-effective ways to save young lives and help a child sleep safe at night.
Goats are one of the very best ways to help children and families in need. Your gift provides nutritious dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt for children. And parents can sell the surplus dairy products for much-needed income. This is a perfect gift for creating positive change that will last!
Create a legacy of lasting change. Imagine your impact when you give the gift of clean, safe water and sanitation that a child, school — or even an entire community — can rely upon. Your generosity could help dig lifesaving wells, purify contaminated water and keep children safe and healthy, protecting them against water-related diseases.
’Tis the season of giving
Support children living in challenging circumstances this World Children’s Day! Adding one of the above life-changing gifts to your Christmas shopping list is a great place to start. You can also choose to send a monthly donation to help transform thousands of children’s lives all year long.
Every gift, big or small, makes a difference for a child living in poverty.
Do Good. Feel Good. Gifts for Good.
If you’re looking to give a meaningful and lastinggift that also gives back, you’ve come to the right place. From charity birthday gifts to Easter charity gifts, ChildFund’s Gifts for Good catalogue is packed with a variety of life-changing items that support the wellbeing of children, families and communities living in poverty around the world.
With our range of gifts that also benefit charity, you are giving meaningful presents for your family members, friends, loved ones, and work colleagues while also making a difference in the world. Whether it’s charity Christmas gifts, birthdays, anniversaries, Hanukkah, Eid or Diwali, you’ll bring greater meaning to the gesture of giving with Gifts for Good. A gift of a dozen chickenscould make a great charity Easter gift, or donate life-saving birthing kits for mums for Mother’s Day or for baby showers.
Long-time ChildFund Australia supporter Carol Vleeskens buys Gifts for Good several times a year as Christmas and birthday presents. “I buy a whole heap and keep the Gifts for Good cards in my cupboards because they don’t go off and get eaten like my chocolates!”
Not sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about giving Gifts for Good – the perfect gift for any occasion.
What are some other great occasions for gift-giving?
Gift-giving isn’t limited to the holiday season. There are numerous occasions throughout the year when you can express your appreciation, celebrate milestones and make a positive impact with Gifts for Good. Here are just a few suggestions:
Birthdays: Celebrate another trip around the sun with a unique and thoughtful Gift for Good. Whether it’s supporting education, healthcare, or community development, a charity birthday gift not only brings joy to the recipient but also contributes to making the world a better place.
Work Anniversaries: Mark the dedication and hard work of your colleagues or employees by acknowledging their hard work with a meaningful Anniversary charity gits. Gifts for Good offer a special way to recognise milestones, creating a culture of appreciation and shared values within the workplace.
Weddings: Instead of traditional wedding favors, say I do to making a lasting impact by gifting your guests with wedding charity gifts or donations. Charity wedding gifts not only add a meaningful touch to your special day but also contributes to causes that resonate with you and your partner.
Retirements: Celebrate the culmination of a career with a retirement gift that goes beyond the ordinary. A charitable donation in honor of the retiree allows them to leave a lasting legacy of kindness and compassion.
Special Achievements: Whether it’s completing a degree, achieving a professional milestone, or reaching a personal goal, commemorate special achievements with a gift that reflects the recipient’s values. It’s a thoughtful way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication.
Mother’s or Father’s Day: Express love and gratitude with our Mother’s day charity gifts that can be found in our Gift for Good catalogue. Choose a cause that aligns with their interests, creating a heartfelt and impactful way to celebrate their role in your life.
Company Milestones: When your company reaches a significant milestone or achieves a noteworthy goal, consider marking the occasion with a collective contribution to a charitable cause. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate success while giving back to the community.
What are Gifts for Good?
A range of charity, life-changing gifts that help support children and families living in poverty around the world. The items listed represent some of the many tools and resources that form part of our child-focused development programs.
Where do the gifts go?
We pool all gift donations to maximise the impact you make, allocating your contribution when and where it is needed most. For example, we would never give a community more chickens than they could possibly need. Once your donation is processed, 100% of the funds are sent to our country offices overseas to purchase and deliver the gifts you have chosen.
While gifts relating to education, health care and livelihoods are regularly included in the catalogue, we added some great new items in 2023:
Help support children and their families all year long with these life-changing essentials!
How can I choose a Gift for Good?
It’s easy! All you need to do is choose your charity gift from our Gifts for Good catalogue and you’ll receive beautiful postal or printable e-cards that you can personalise and give to the person you’re buying for. This card also explains the life-changing gift you’ve given on their behalf.
Your Gift for Good will go to where it’s needed most, supporting children, families or communities living in poverty or facing conflict or disaster.
Add a personal touch to your gift
With more than 40 impactful Gifts for Good items available, you can find a unique gift to suit the interests of your friends, family, colleagues or loved ones. For Carol, choosing the perfect Christmas gift means finding one that’s meaningful for both the donor and the recipient, and benefits the wider community.
“I will try and match the gift to the person,” she says. “For example, I have a friend who works in public health so I gave her the gift that provides children with mosquito nets. And if I know someone who is passionate about gardening, I might give them one about seeds or trees.”
Gifts for Good is where Carol goes to buy all her presents. “Gifts for Good is fantastic because I don’t have to think!” she says. “I don’t have to go to the shops and spend time thinking about what someone has or doesn’t have, or if something is in their colour scheme. I don’t have to don’t do any of that.”
A gift of a lifetime
No matter what the occasion, you can give a charity gift with our Gifts for Good. After all, the real magic of any celebration is spreading cheer and kindness and giving to those in need.
Whether you choose to donate a dairy goat or bright future bundle, you can bring deeper meaning to your presents and deliver lasting impact to the lives of thousands of children and their families.
