From Chickens to Clean Water: the Stories Behind Your Gifts

Since we launched Gifts of Compassion for Christmas 2024, you’ve donated an incredible 2,113 gifts, worth more than £270,000. That’s thousands of families whose lives have been transformed because you recognised the power of a simple, practical gift.

Now, we invite you to discover the stories behind the most popular gifts from last year. These heartfelt accounts reveal the real impact of your generosity for children, their families, communities and our church partners.

We hope these stories inspire you to be moved with compassion again this Christmas, as you bless your loved ones with gifts that truly change lives.

Home farming: a sustainable way to fight hunger and generate income

Heidi, 8 years, Ecuador, holds a chicken.

When you give a goat, pig or some chickens, you empower a family in poverty by enabling them to earn a steady income. Alongside the animals, families receive the tools and training they need to care for them and build their business.

Last year, chickens were our most popular gift! Eight-year-old Heidi (pictured above) from Ecuador says, ‘We are feeding the chickens so they can grow and have more chicks. We sell them and now my mother has money to do the grocery shopping.'

In Fulugani, Kenya, where drought and land disputes left many families with nothing, 300 caregivers are now rebuilding their lives through poultry farming. Each family received 20 chicks and training, laying the groundwork for long-term food security and income.

Rachael, a mother in Kenya, says, “My family situation was so bad before I was given these 20 chicks. My family would spend the night without food which disturbed me so much. Now I can sell eggs every day and I can comfortably feed my family.”

Home farm gifts restore a family’s dignity by empowering them to be self-sufficient.

Mosquito nets: the gift that could save a life

Mother, Ayelech and daughter Beti, 2, Ethiopia, under a mosquito net.

Malaria remains a deadly threat, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where someone dies from the disease every minute. In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 263 million new cases across 83 countries. 

What if your stocking filler this year wasn’t just thoughtful, but lifesaving? Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are the most cost-effective way to save a life. 

Pelé, a mother in Burkina Faso, received a malaria net. She says, “Before this intervention, our community was constantly exposed to mosquitoes. Many children lost their lives because of malaria ... A sincere thank you to these kind-hearted individuals who have made their resources available to support us in fighting this disease that brings sorrow to our families. May God abundantly bless them. This support has been of great significance to us.”

A malaria net from the Gifts of Compassion catalogue is a simple, powerful way to bless a family living in poverty. It’s not just the net: families also receive education on malaria prevention and what to do if symptoms appear.

Mosquito nets have been our second most popular gift in 2025. It’s a simple gift that safeguards a family’s future.

A toilet block: the gift that builds more than bathrooms

Valeria, 7, Ecuador, smiles at a bathroom mirror.

It might not be the first thing you think of when choosing a Christmas gift but donating towards a toilet block could be one of the most powerful presents you give this year.

Through Gifts of Compassion, your donation joins others to fund entire sanitation projects.

We saw what’s possible in Brazil, where our very first fundraiser was fully supported just four months after going live. Before that, 248 children at the church project shared just two toilets. Thanks to your generosity, the new facilities now include showers, sinks and toilets—three stalls each for boys and girls—adapted for children with disabilities.

But it wasn’t just about bricks and plumbing.

The local church involved the entire community in the work, holding educational sessions on hygiene and oral health with the help of nursing students. Every child also received a personal hygiene kit.

As Elanny Loterio, the Compassion project director shared, “Now, we can better meet the needs of our community. This improvement reflects our commitment to serve with love and respect, strengthening our mission to welcome and support those who need it the most.” 

You can bring that same hope to Tanzania where children are routinely falling sick due to the absence of proper sanitation.

Participants at this project in Tanzania have been affected by infectious diseases, with the lack of clean toilets a major cause. Girls also face the challenge of managing their hygiene during menstruation.

Your gift will help build private, sanitary facilities. That’s about so much more than a toilet. It’s a life-changing space where someone can feel clean, safe and respected.

Glasses and eyecare - a gift that unlocks freedom to learn and explore

Geovania, 11 yrs, Brazil smiles at the camera.

Imagine trying to cope with the challenges of life in poverty, all while struggling to see clearly. Eye health has a profound impact on every area of a person’s quality of life.  

Glasses mean a child can read the blackboard, walk safely to school, and see the faces of those they love. It’s a gift that brings confidence and opportunity. 

Just ask Geovania, aged 11 who says, “Now that I can see well, everything is better. My grades at school are much better, and I can learn more. My dream is to be a doctor… I want to help other people and be an example to others.” 

An incredible 90% of vision impairment is preventable or treatable. 

It will be easy for any loved one who wears glasses to understand how transformative this gift is.

Safe water

Larry, 11, Ghana is pictured carrying some water

The Butabaala community in Kamuli, Uganda knows the struggle for safe water all too well. Their water sources were shallow and contaminated, and children often fell ill or missed school just to fetch water.

But thanks to generous donors to our Gifts of Compassion safe water fundraiser, a motorised borehole has now been installed. Powered by solar panels, it’s providing clean, reliable water to 354 Compassion-supported children, their families and the wider community.

This year, we’re raising money to fund two boreholes for communities in the Savannah region of Ghana. Compared to socks or a voucher, this is a Christmas gift that won't be forgotten.

This Christmas, let every gift you give tell a story as powerful as the ones you’ve just read. Shop meaningful gifts today.