World Gifts making a difference

CAFOD volunteers Julie and Duncan with their World Gifts cards [CAFOD]

Two CAFOD volunteers went to Africa to see how buying ethical Christmas presents can help improve life for people living in poverty

Duncan MacInnes (58) from Norwich and Julie Longton (27) from Manchester travelled to Kenya and Tanzania with CAFOD to visit projects funded by the World Gifts scheme.

The pair spent a day with two Tanzanian children who had received school kits thanks to the generosity of CAFOD supporters, who raised almost £2 million through the catalogue last year.

Life-changing difference

The gift of school kits, which costs only £7, can make a life-changing difference to poor children and their families by providing school uniforms, stationary, and school bags – items that are too expensive for many parents to afford.

Julie said: “The children, Jumanne and Sheila, that we met had been provided with stationary, a school bag, a uniform and shoes. Although primary education is free in Tanzania if you don’t have a uniform or that other equipment you can’t go to school.

“The lasting impression that I have of the visit is how invaluable a World Gift is to people in Africa, to school children and to mothers and fathers trying to provide for their families.”

They also visited a woman who, after receiving one cow from CAFOD, built up a successful smallholding and is now able to send all her children to school and her son to university.

To round off the visit, Duncan and Julie both got on their bikes to see the world of health educators near the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam.

CAFOD has helped provide bicycles for the group of over 200 volunteers who provide care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Both volunteers will now be sharing their experiences with parishes in their local areas.

Duncan notes: “The main thing that has stuck with me since the trip is that there are millions of people in Africa whose circumstances are similar to the people I met, and that for a relatively small amount of money, we in the affluent UK can make a tremendous difference to someone’s life not just in the short term but also in the long term.

“My talks and photos will show people that by buying these gifts you really can make a difference to someone’s life – what better present could you give at Christmas?

"Last year people in the diocese of East Anglia purchased more than £55,000 worth of World Gifts, £11,000 in Norwich alone. With the generous help of the public we can do even more.”

The 2007 World Gifts catalogue is now available by calling Freephone 0808 14 000 14 or at www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts

For further information or photographs please contact Fiona Callister on 020 7095 5558 or 07867 908720

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