The Oxfam Unwrapped catalog shows a range of unconventional gifts. Photos | Courtesy of Oxfam Unwrapped |
A can of worms, a life jacket and a hygiene kit all seem unlikely gifts for a wish list. But for some,
these practical gifts provide aid in a time of emergency or help in the transition out of poverty.
Oxfam, an international relief and development organization, creates lasting solutions to poverty,
hunger and injustice. Through the Oxfam Unwrapped catalog, donors can purchase gifts that are
put to use in more than 120 countries. Individuals can search this online catalog to learn about
the value of agricultural and livestock gifts.
Items include beadwork whose handcrafting generates income for HIV-affected women, disaster
warning systems to help communicate safe pathways, camels to provide transportation in extreme
conditions, fair trade honey harvested by small-scale rural farmers, emergency toilets and
seedlings to create a garden. Search by category (including "green" gifts, emergency essentials and
furred and feathered) or price point (under $25 USD to over $500 USD) and you are bound to
find a gift that knocks the holiday socks off of that oh-so-hard-to-shop-for person on your list. |
Oxfam America
226 Causeway Street
5th floor
Boston, MA 02114
USA
800.776.9326
info@oxfamamerica.org
www.oxfamamerica.org |
|
Interested in giving but not quite sure to whom? Interested in volunteering but not quite sure
where? UniversalGiving is an organization that provides an interactive network to connect
individuals with projects that meet their interests, price range and availability.
Founded in June 2002, UniversalGiving is a social entrepreneurship nonprofit whose vision
is to "create a world where giving and volunteering are a natural part of everyday life." The
organization's Web site makes everyday giving easy. It allows users to search for organizations,
projects, volunteer opportunities and gift packages by region and topic of interest. Categories
range from health and education to microfinance, conflict resolution and technology.
The organization also offers a service called "UniversalGiving Corporate," which matches
corporations with both volunteer and donor activities.
Pamela Hawley, founder and CEO of UniversalGiving, says that the organization prides itself
on evaluating the quality of the programs and organizations in its online network. "What we're
really driving towards is getting as much money to the nonprofits, making it as quality as
possible . to integrate it in people's lives," she says.
Individuals participate in a basic
computer training session offered by
Develop Africa, Inc. in Freetown,
Sierra Leone. Hands-on training
sessions cover an introduction to
computers, word processing and
spreadsheets. Photo | Courtesy of
Develop Africa, Inc. |
Flora Callisaya, 38, is a single mother to
three boys. Barely able to sustain her family
with her earnings, Flora went to Pro Mujer
to get a loan and decided to join their savings
program. Through these services, Flora has
expanded her printing business and explored
new enterprises. She and her family have
taken advantage of Pro Mujer's health services
and computer classes. Her savings have
enabled her to buy her own land and build a
house. Photo | Courtesy of Pro Mujer
Sports Gift donated soccer equipment to a
community center in Juarez, Mexico to start
a boy's team. The boys formed their own team
and entered local competitions. Three months
later, seeing how much fun the boys were
having, the girls in the community requested
soccer equipment to start a girl's team. Sports
Gift donated the soccer equipment for the
girls, and today both teams are thriving.
Photo | Courtesy of Sports Gift
UniversalGiving
560 Sutter Street
Suite 210
San Francisco, CA 94102
USA
415.296.9193
info@universalgiving.org
www.universalgiving.org |
Looking for a meaningful travel experience? The Global Citizens Network (GCN)
organizes volunteer excursions that immerse travelers in the culture and daily life
of the communities they visit. Short-term volunteer teams are partnered with local
organizations to participate in projects aimed at meeting the community's needs. In
addition to brick-and-mortar projects, volunteers have assisted in several agriculture
initiatives including shade grown coffee, rice harvesting, irrigation plans and community
beautification and restoration. Participants pay a program fee of $800 USD to $2,200
USD - depending on the site and trip length. Fees cover transportation within the
country/state, accommodation, meals, training materials and a modest donation to the
community project at hand. Trip destinations include Arizona, Kentucky, Washington,
Brazil, Canada, Nepal, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Thailand, Tanzania and
Kenya. Summing up the experience, past participant Ted says, "It has become the
most meaningful thing I've experienced in my life. It was more than a casual cultural
exchange. I never felt like a tourist, I felt like I was coming home."
This GCN team helps build a health center in Maili Tatu, Kenya. Photo | Courtesy of Global Citizens Network |
A GCN volunteer poses
for a photo with a child
in Maili Tatu, Kenya.
Photo | Courtesy of GCN |
GCN's volunteers work with the residents of Polaponta, Peru to build a
student-designed school. Photo | Courtesy of Global Citizens Network |
 |
Global Citizens Network
130 N Howell Street
Saint Paul, MN 55104
USA
651.644.0960
info@globalcitizens.org
www.globalcitizens.org |
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