Give Gifts that Matter this Holiday Season

"Use Your Shopping Power For Good!" - Unicef

Give gifts that matter this holiday season


Think local:

Visit farmer's markets and local artisans. Think of local fundraisers. Examples: Women's Wellness Calendar sold by Miramichi Regional Health Authority, $5. Proceeds to promoting women's wellness, Int'l Women's Day conference. Newcastle Farmer's Market, 30 Nov. & 14 Dec. or Stacey McFarlane 623-6136. Give to the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John to buy gifts that women in prison in New Brunswick can give to their children. Box 23012, Saint John, E2J 4M1.


Think global change:

People Power Pack - $120 from Oxfam - Give a voice to poor communities around the world. Advocacy work focuses on changing policies and practices, locally and globally that perpetuate the cycle of poverty in poor countries. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/category.php?category=1

Women's Training - $53 from Oxfam - When women become healthier and better paid, children and communities thrive. Training gives women greater control over their own income; knowledge about their labour rights and how to organize for stronger health and employment services. https://payment.csfm.com/donations/unwrapped/gift.php?gift_id=3

Train 10 Change Promoters - $60 from Oxfam - Changing attitudes is the first step in making change on the issues of poverty and injustice. This gift is providing 10 change promoters with the training and promotional materials needed to campaign for positive changes in their communities. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/category.php?category=1


Training on Gender Based Violence - $90 from Oxfam - Provide support for 3 community members to participate in training to help educate others about gender rights and equality. This program helps women to speak up in their communities and educates men about the importance of women's rights and their roles as citizens. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/category.php?category=1


Help Afghan Women - Give to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, a volunteer solidarity network founded in 1996 supporting the empowerment of Afghan women and girls. www.w4wafghan.ca/w4w_html/donation.htm Tax receipts are issued under Rights & Democracy http://www.dd-rd.ca/

Educate a Girl in China - $60 from WorldVision. www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/GiveaGift.aspx

Unicef: www.shopunicef.ca/cmo/Portal/portal.aspx


Think livelihood:

Donkey - $120 from Oxfam - A donkey can carry loads to and from market. Plus there's free fertilizer. The gift also provides vaccinations, market awareness training and creates self-sufficiency. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/category.php?category=2

Bicycles - $105 from Oxfam - A bike allows health workers to cover greater areas, and may be used for emergency response. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/category.php?category=3

Radio - $15 from Oxfam - Provide broadcasting equipment and radios to poor communities so they get health advice, education and local news. www.oxfamunwrapped.ca/index.php


Think fairly traded gifts:
Visit Cultures in Fredericton, Ten Thousand Villages in Petitcodiac and Saint John (their cards are available in Sobeys, Jean Coutu, Pier One Imports stores in N.B.) Fair trade is not just coffee: sports balls: http://yfocus.ncf.ca/fairtrade/ ; clothing: www.fairtradeclothing.ca/


Think out of the box:
Make a donation through Charity Village, Canada's supersite for the nonprofit sector. http://charityvillage.com/cv/charityvillage/welcome.html

Buy a gift from a Canadian charity: http://charityvillage.com/cv/marketplace/holidaygg.html


Think women's rights:

Support Canadian women's rights with a donation to FAFIA through Paypal. FAFIA advocates Canada's respect of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Free limited edition t-shirt with all donations over $100. www.fafia-afai.org/en/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1

Donate Air Miles or Aeroplan Points to support LEAF - To replace cuts to critical funding sources, donate items redeemed with your points (get charitable tax receipts) or donate points to LEAF (Women's Legal Education and Action Fund). 416.595.7170; m.reinsilber@leaf.ca. http://www.leaf.ca/

T-shirts, mousepads, totebags with a message - "Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards, can never bring about reform." Susan B. Anthony. $12.99 www.feministgifts.com/


AND think non violent and non stereotyped gifts to children.

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"If it had been Three Wise Women, they would have helped deliver the baby, cleared the stable, made a casserole and brought practical gifts like diapers."