While many of us spend Christmas surrounded by family, over indulging in Christmas dinners, millions of children in the world spend the day as every other day – fighting for survival.
Rotary Guernesiais who run the Tanzania Shoe Box Appeal in Guernsey found they had difficulty in getting people to understand how the simple present of a shoebox with basic items and toys could make such a different to a child in countries like Tanzania and Monte Negro.
We were commissioned to make a film that showed the difference between Christmas in the UK and Christmas for the poor children and orphans in these countries. This has been distributed to schools and used in assemblies and lessons. It has also been shown in news broadcasts and to show other groups of Children such as the scouts and other adult organisations. The impact of the film should achieve two objectives, to show the people who already support the project the impact of their work and to inspire more people to get involved.
The Shoebox Scheme is easy for clubs to operate and ultimately fulfils the Rotary ethic of individual time involvement. By visiting schools or youth groups to collect the filled boxes, there is an opportunity to address the children about how and to whom the boxes will be delivered. A short explanation of Rotary can easily be slotted in.
The advantage with the scheme is that it can be a geography and social lesson for the children. However, the main advantage is that it can be a positive way for ‘Children to Help Children.’
