Give A Child A Chance This Christmas
At this time of year it is easy to become wrapped up and consumed by everything Christmassy. The festivities, the food, the presents, and all of the other wonderful things we get to enjoy at this magical time of year. It seems like the only thing I’m concerned about is whose presents I’ve forgotten? What I’m going to do in my time away from work?…What amazing gifts my family and friends will get me? I know I’m not alone in this, and every year we go into “Christmas mode” as I like to call it; as we run through the same motions year in, year out – it’s almost second nature.
There is one moment at Christmas time however, which since as early as I can remember hits me at my very core and make me realise just how lucky I really am. Once again I’m quite certain that I’m not alone in this, and I can attribute this moment to one powerful lyric sang over 25 years ago…
“#well tonight thank god it’s them – instead of you”
Every time I hear “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, and that specific lyric – it almost makes me feel sick to my stomach. Whenever I hear the song I know it’s coming, I almost wait to see if it doesn’t have an effect on me anymore; but without fail Bono’s flawless delivery, especially of such a poignant lyric, turns my insides. How can I be so selfish? How trivial of a life do I live? What kind of warped world do I live in and contribute towards? Just some of the questions I find myself asking.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by ‘Band Aid’ was written after pop-star Bob Geldof had visited Ethiopia and saw the destruction that famine had caused. The final straw for him was the moment he watched a child die in front of him and he was powerless to help them.
The song highlights that Christmas is a time for giving, and what better gift can we give children around the world then the chance to survive.
Here at Groupon are not going to turn a blind eye to those most in need, especially at this time of year, and have teamed up with Save the Children to help give children around the world a chance this Christmas.
Save the Children works in 120 countries, including the UK. They save children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children’s vital work reaches more than 8 million children each year – keeping them alive, getting them into school and protecting them from harm.
We will be giving you the opportunity to donate gifts to Save the Children.
You can choose from the following gifts to donate:
£10 for warm winter clothing for a child in sub-zero temperatures
In places that experience severe winters, such as Tibet and Mongolia, children are at real risk of harm from freezing temperatures. Though farming families might lose a lot of their livestock to the conditions, their children can stay safe and snug as a bug in a warm, thick rug.
£22 for a ‘No Child Born To Die’ survival kit with vaccines plus diarrhoea and pneumonia treatment
Measles, pneumonia, and diarrhoea can be prevented or treated with the vaccines and medicines in this kit, allowing children to survive and grow up strong and healthy.
£160 for a hairy yak in a remote mountain region
A hairy yak is a beast of a gift with serious plough pulling power. This yak will help feed and clothe young boarding school children who cannot be fed by families who live far away over mountainous terrain. A yak can also provide nutritious, calcium-rich milk to drink and cook with; thick, warm wool to knit winter clothes with; and a way of carrying produce to market to help families lift themselves out of poverty.
How it Works:
1. Buy your gift for Save the Children.
2. We email you the voucher immediately.
3. Click on the link in the voucher and enter your Gift Aid details. If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your gift can be increased by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme at no extra cost to you. This means a donation of £10 could be worth an extra £2.50 to Save the Children.
4. Your donation goes where it’s most needed. Each time you buy a gift you’ll be contributing to Save the Children’s vital work, with each gift covering a theme. When you buy a gift, your money will contribute to projects related to the gift theme. For example, if you buy a ‘No Child Born to Die’ survival kit, this falls in the health category. Therefore the money will always be spent on Save the Children’s health programmes but not always on that specific item.
Because Groupon is all about finding new ways to get together and enjoy life, G-Team want to introduce the members of the Groupon community to communities all over the world. Based on the power of group action, Groupon believes that collective resources can tackle poverty and injustice more effectively
So if you’ve read this and feel like we do here at Groupon – help support the campaign and donate buy buying the deal. It’s such a small price to pay for changing a child’s life and you have the power to do just that.
Thank you all in advance for your support and we wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Photographs courtesy of: Save the Children
i like how the goods that are purchased for the poor are practical everyday ones that can be used all the time