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Village in Mali celebrates the arrival of clean water by dancing and raising their arms under the water
9 December 2020

Christmas Charity

How can I help charities this Christmas?

Giving at Christmas

At Christmas, it can be easy to get caught up in deciding what gifts to buy, trying to avoid double-booking visits with friends and family, and deciding how much to cook on Christmas Day. Christmas is a time of giving, so when you’re writing your shopping list consider helping charities this Christmas. This time of year, we need your help more than ever – and your support is crucial to our work.

At Christmas, charities work around the clock to help those in need - whether it’s helping to provide a safe place to sleep and food for people without homes, caring for animals bought as unwanted Christmas presents, or looking out for vulnerable children around the world. At World Vision we believe every child is a gift from God, and at this special time of year, we make sure no child is forgotten. So, if you’re looking for a way to give back this year, here’s a handy list of ways to support charities at Christmas… find out how you can help.

Two children in Zambia smile as they sit in front of Christmas lights
Sponsored child Chansa, 5, (left) and his cousin, Debby, 7, enjoy the Christmas lights at his grandparent's house in Zambia.

1. Sponsor a child for Christmas

Sponsoring a child with World Vision helps to provide children and communities with the life-saving essentials that we often take for granted. We serve communities in some of the world’s most vulnerable places to make sure the children are safe and cared for. When you sponsor a child for just £26 a month, you’ll help provide them with clean water, nutritious food, a good education, and keep them free from child labour and danger.

Child Sponsorship means that you’ll be the child’s only sponsor, and you’ll see them grow through the years through letters, drawings and photos. It truly is an incredible feeling seeing your encouragement and support bring joy and positivity to a child’s life. When you sponsor a child, you can send cards and gifts to share the Christmas spirit with a child in another country.

If you’re looking for a way to not only make a difference in a child’s life, but to see the enormity of your impact through the years, Child Sponsorship is a great gift to yourself or a family member this Christmas.

Sponsor a child this Christmas

Give a child a gift that lasts a lifetime

Sponsor a child for Christmas
Shemi
I would say to someone who is thinking about sponsoring a child - go ahead and do it, it is the most life changing thing ever!

Shemi

Child Sponsor

2. Charity Christmas Gifts

Looking for an alternative gift for friends and family this year? Something that won’t end up in a landfill or gathering dust on a shelf? Something that will truly make a difference?

If you struggle to decide what your friends or family might want as a gift at Christmas, or you just want to find something a bit more meaningful, charity gifts may be the perfect choice for you. World Vision Christmas Must Have Gifts help change the lives of children and their communities in some of the world’s poorest places. By giving a loved one a charity gift, you’ll give the greatest gift of all – the knowledge that they’ve changed the life of someone who truly needs it.

A charity gift is a gift for everyone, so if you’re searching for gifts that will bring you – and your loved ones – true joy this year, look no further. Charity gifts are truly a gift for all, as they will enrich Christmas for you and the recipients of your gifts, plus they will make a real difference to people in need.

Donate a present today. Choose from a range of life-changing and enriching World Vision Christmas charity gifts including:

Child looks into camera as they drink clean water from a tap in Rwanda
Shaka, 5, enjoys a drink of clean water in Rwanda, thanks to a World Vision built a 6.8 kilometer pipeline that benefits nearly 6,000 people across 14 villages.

3. Give a one-off donation

Even after coronavirus has affected all of us, there are some children who are more affected than others - and that's who we're supporting this Christmas.

Millions of refugee children across our hurting world don’t have that sense of safety and belonging that comes from having a home this Christmas. They've had to flee devastation, violence and traumatic situations, leaving their home and everything they know behind.

Our Christmas appeal means you can bring hope and comfort to children, who would otherwise receive nothing. Your generous gift today means that a refugee child will:

  • Receive materials like pens and books for home-schooling, safer from the coronavirus
  • Learn mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing to protect themselves in camps
  • Be better protected from violence, thanks to child protection workshops for parents, teachers and faith leaders

Moktara fled her home three years ago when violence erupted in her hometown in Myanmar. Her life in a camp in Bangladesh was already hard, and coronavirus has only made life harder. 

Millions of refugee children need your help this Christmas. Can you give them hope by showing that you care? Donate to help children like Moktara.

Girl called Moktara looks to the camera with a younger child in front of her on her lap at a refugee camp in Bangladesh
Moktara used to go to a learning centre, where she was looked after and made friends. But now the classrooms have closed. She now stays in her makeshift home all day.

4. Volunteer for charities this Christmas

Coronavirus has had an impact on many charities - and there will be safe ways to help a number of them over Christmas. If you have spare time to donate, you could help provide a helping hand in charity shops, food banks, soup kitchens supporting homeless people, shelters for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, animal rescue shelters, fundraising events, and various other opportunities.

There are lots of websites that can help you find volunteering opportunities near you, or visit our website for opportunities to volunteer for World Vision. Always make sure to discuss COVID-19 safety measures with the organisations before committing to volunteer.

You can also look for opportunities to donate Christmas gifts from previous years that you haven’t used. Things that may be clutter to you could help bring joy to someone less fortunate at Christmas. And if you have children, look for ways to donate toys to a children's Christmas charity to help support a family through this season.

Spread the love this Christmas

2020 has been a tough year for everyone and if you're looking for charities to donate to for Christmas, there will be no shortage of organisations accepting donations of your time, presents or financial support.

Share your Christmas joy with people all around the world this year. Whether you sponsor a child, give a gift to charity, give a one-off donation or volunteer, giving is what makes Christmas special. 

Learn more