Why not share the love this Christmas and give a little to someone in need? Go on – I promise you’ll get a warm fuzzy feeling if you do.
1. Kiva
One of the best presents I’ve ever received was a gift of money to micro-lending organisation Kiva.org. You choose which entrepreneur in a developing country you want to lend you money to (I chose a woman in Uganda who was starting up a spaza shop) and get emails with details of the progress of the venture. When the person you’ve lent the money to has started making money with his or her business, you’re paid back the money. Since the first lending, I’ve lent the same money from the gift out to three different people. It feels great to help someone out by empowering them, and not just giving them a hand out.
2. Donate a toy
Woolworths is collecting toys for donation. Just drop the toys off in your nearest store – easy!
3. Gifts4Good
Go to Gifts4Good and donate a gift like toys to underprivileged children, on behalf of your friend or relative. Gifts range in price from R50 to R1000.
4. Adopt a panda
…Or a cheetah, gorilla, snow leopard, tiger, or polar bear. For a small fee of around R30 every month you can ‘adopt’ an endangered animal through WWF. It makes a great gift for a child – they get an adoption pack with a cuddly toy and a photo of the adopted animal.
5. Sponsor an aquarium visit
For only R67 you can sponsor a child’s visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town – an amazing Christmas present!
Photo by Joriel “Joz” Jimenez
