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Save Lives by Shopping
Seven ways you can change your Christmas shopping to help people around the world.
Catherine Newhouse


ADVERTISEMENT

Stuck on what to get your friends and family for Christmas or need ideas for your wishlist? I've discovered seven ways you can find unique gift ideas and help impoverished people around the world at the same time.

1) Trade Fairly

Ten Thousand Villages (tenthousandvillages.com) sells the work of artisans around the world and provides them with income. Whether you need toys, ornaments, jewelry, games, decorations, or instruments, this fair trade store offers a variety of creative gifts for everyone from your grandmother to your kid brother. The coolest thing I've found: the Kenyan galimoto, or a little man who rides a bicycle when you push him. Younger siblings and cousins love playing with galimotos, and your easily entertained friends might enjoy them, too. You can shop online or find a store near you.

What you can find:

Galimoto from Kenya: $6

Green Gecko Wall Hanging from Haiti: $12

Wool Baby Vicuna Stuffed Animal from Peru: $14

2) Show Your Commitment

American voices have united in attempts to eliminate poverty through the ONE Campaign. To show your support and help raise awareness of global poverty, hunger, and disease, you can purchase ONE apparel in the campaign store. One idea: grab a cheap pack of wrist bands and hand them out to friends or teachers.

What you can find:
Pack of 10 ONE white bands: $10
ONE T-shirt: $18

3) Reveal the Invisible

If you've seen the documentaries Invisible Children: Rough Cut or Go, you know the power a movie has to inspire teens to make a difference in Northern Uganda's tragic war. These movies are great gifts for friends who appreciate humanitarian causes. You can even play them at a Christmas party, and then talk about how Jesus would respond to a situation like the war in Uganda. Also make sure to check out the brand-new Invisible Children clothing designs for the holiday season, including stylish scarves that promote peace in Northern Uganda. (On page 11 of the Winter 09 issue of Ignite Your Faith magazine, see how Invisible Children moved one teen to action.)

What you can find:
Invisible Children Logo T-shirt: $10
Dove T-shirt, Silver: $10
Invisible Children: Rough Cut documentary: $10
Go documentary: $20
Limited Edition Dove Crest Scarf: $20

4) Wear Beads

Through Bead for Life, you can help a nation of people devastated by war and poverty by buying bracelets and necklaces made by Ugandan women.These make beautiful and thoughtful holiday gifts for your mom, sister, girlfriend, grandmother, aunt, or friend—showing your love not just for another, but for the entire world.

What you can find:
Bangle Bracelet: $5
3 Strand Bracelet: $15
Triple Swirl Necklace: $20

5) Ignite Love

Check out Call for Love clothing. For every item bought, $5 is donated to various causes around the world including education and healthcare for orphans in Rwanda, mosquito nets to protect African families from malaria, and restoring hope to victims of sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. To order Call for Love's T-shirts, hoodies, and bandanas, look through their clothing catalog and e-mail the style and size to CFLclothing@aol.com.


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