This Christmas, change lives by donating farm animals as gifts to families in need. Gift options include buying a goat for charity or buying a chicken for charity. Your donation will be the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, as a farm animal gift can provide families in rural communities with hope for the future.
Families who own a farm animal can earn additional income and access nutritious food. Evidence shows that the consumption of animal-source foods contributes to healthy child growth and development.
As well as goats and chickens, you can also choose pigs and sheep in our Gifts for Good catalogue. To help you decide which farm animal you would like to give, we’ve listed how each one can change a family’s life.
Donate a goat to charity
One of the major reasons to donate a goat is that they are easy to breed and, when they do, most will have twins. More goats means more milk, and more livestock to sell.
The meat and milk from a goat is highly nutritious and provides a good source of vitamins and minerals. The manure from a goat is also an effective fertiliser that can be used on the family’s crops, and encourages vegetables to grow in abundance. This is why buying a goat for Christmas is a great way to set a family up for a better year next year.
Donate a one dozen chickens to charity
For a family in a rural community, donating one dozen chickens can secure a healthier future. Chicken’s eggs contain high amounts of calcium and vitamin A, providing the children with essential nutrients. Chicken eggs are in high demand in rural communities, and so they can easily be sold at markets for additional income.
Another reason to donate a chicken is that they are easy to care for. Busy parents can leave their children in charge of looking after their chickens, giving them a sense of responsibility while learning important life skills.
Donate a sheep for charity
Sheep milk has one of the highest concentrations of essential nutrients, even higher than milk from cows or goats. This milk aids in growth and development, and is perfect for young children. Using sheep milk, families are also able to produce cheese and yoghurt.
Another benefit of donating sheep is that their wool can be used to weave local textiles. Families can then sell the textiles they create in their local community.
Donate a furry friends bundle to spread even more Christmas cheer
If you can’t choose just one farm animal to donate, you don’t have to! Our Furry Friends Bundle combines three of our most popular animals and is a great way to make a lasting difference.
Each Furry Friends Bundle comes with two sheep, two pigs and a dozen chickens. When you donate a Furry Friend’s Bundle, you can feel good knowing that you are supplying a reliable source of nutritious milk, eggs and more to help families who need it most.
A charity Christmas gift that will change lives
No matter which animal you choose, whether you want to donate a chicken or goat, you are improving the livelihood and wellbeing of a family who needs your help by donating a charity Christmas gift.
“Buying Gifts for Good is such a good thing to do to help children,” she says. “I would recommend that others buy Gifts for Good this year and not buy things that are going to be thrown in the cupboard or thrown out. Do something for somebody instead.”
Donate a farm animal this Christmas by visiting our Gifts for Good page where you can view all our charity gifts, or contact us today.
International Literacy Day is an annual event that celebrates literacy and the importance of reading and writing. International Literacy Day was started in 1966 by UNESCO as a way to promote youth literacy and global understanding through reading. The day also recognises the need for adults to continue learning throughout their lives. It has been observed every year to motivate individuals around the world to read more, improve literacy skills, provide educational opportunities for children who don’t have access to them and foster international cooperation among nations.
The 2024 theme is “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies”.
When is International Literacy Day?
International Literacy Day falls on the 8th of September each year.
When did International Literacy Day start, and why?
International Literacy Day was proclaimed by UNESCO on the 8th of September 1966 to remind people about how important literacy is for individuals, communities and societies. This issue has been a key component in UN Sustainable Development Goals since 2015 as well as in their 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
How is literacy linked to employment?
In today’s world, literacy is not just about being able to read and write. It has become a fundamental element of the human experience that has positively impacted many aspects of life. There are numerous benefits of literacy, but one, in particular, is it offers an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.
The lack of education can significantly impact a child’s potential in life. Education is an investment in the future, but it’s a complicated one. Families living on low incomes often need their children to stop attending school and begin work to supplement household income, limiting access to crucial literacy skills that allow them opportunities outside of unskilled jobs with little progression potential.
This cycle leads and keeps many families in poverty as they cannot progress beyond these limited wages or provide better life prospects once adults are old enough to enter the job market themselves.
COVID-19 has intensified the learning crisis – especially for young girls
In many developing countries, families cannot afford to send their children to school. Girls often have the responsibility for taking care of family duties and so are unable to attend class as their male peers do. Many girls who were previously going to school now find themselves without education due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this will likely mean they will not return.
It is estimated 11 million girls may never return to school after the pandemic, with many experts fearing that this will reinforce a cycle of violence and poverty that will continue for generations.
Girls and young women face unique challenges in a time of crisis. According to Malala Fund, girls are the first to be removed from school and last to return. Though men are more likely to die of COVID-19 than women on average, studies show that the social and economic fallout from the pandemic is worse for women.
The lack of education, especially for girls in developing countries, can lead to dire consequences. For every 100 boys unable to receive an education there are 123 girls denied the right as well. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics tells us that “for these children a future without opportunity beckons”. Girls who do not finish school often get married before they’re ready and face violence or higher numbers of pregnancies.
What are some International Literacy Day activities?
There are many ways you can celebrate International Literacy Day in your community and we’ve chosen a few to showcase below:
Donate books
Do you have any books that need a new home? Consider donating them to your local school library. Add to the catalogue of a child’s school library and help them escape reality with a captivating fiction story or explore the world and expand their mind with a non-fiction read.
Start your own community book club
Why not take inspiration from International Literacy Day and start your book club? Book clubs are a great way to meet new people and learn about different perspectives plus can be done in person or online. They can also be the perfect place for you to find your next favourite book!
Host a morning tea
Whether you host one in the office or decide to organise something at home, morning teas are simple to organise and a fantastic way to catch up for a good cause. Guests can simply donate on the day and share a bite to eat. Learn more about community fundraising for ChildFund.
Donate to ChildFund
This International Literacy Day help children living in vulnerable circumstances access the education they deserve. You can donate a number of critical learning items, including Tablets, a School Supplies Set, help build a classroom, and bicycles and helmetsso children in remote communities can go to school.
For more information on how you can help make a difference in the lives of many children living in poverty around the world, you can check out our current Appeals or learn more about making a monthly donation.
