A Better Future For Children This Christmas

Kiwis Asked To ‘Open Door’ To Better Future For Children This Christmas

Wellington, 22 November 2009. – New Zealanders can do their bit for children in the developing world this Christmas by posting a UNICEF widget to their website or blog.

The widget or ‘virtual door’ is a gateway to UNICEF’s online shop for Inspired Gifts – actual aid items like story books, water pumps, and anti-malarial drugs that improve children’s lives. By stepping through the virtual door, people can buy Inspired Gifts as part of their regular Christmas shopping. While their family or friends get a card telling them about the gift, the actual Inspired Gift goes to children in developing countries.

UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay, says the virtual door is a modern way to help children in need.

Individuals, businesses and organisations with their own website or blog can help to make the virtual doorway accessible to more people by posting the widget on their own site. They get the door by going to www.inspiredgifts.org.nz

“People can also show their support for children by going through the door and buying an Inspired Gift as part of their Christmas shopping.”

Mr McKinlay says that buying an Inspired Gift is a more meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.

“Buying an Inspired Gift not only shows you care by giving to those who are less well off, but the gift you buy is a real, physical aid item that we guarantee will be distributed to children in need.

“If you buy water purification tablets, for example, the tablets will actually go to a developing country where they will be used to make water safe to drink for children, usually in an emergency situation.

“UNICEF’s sophisticated logistics supply system and global reach means that an aid gift that you buy today could be deployed to almost any developing country in the world, according to the need.”

Mr McKinlay says that New Zealanders have bought Inspired Gifts that have improved the lives of thousands of children in developing countries around the world.

“Kiwi’s have enthusiastically embraced Inspired Gifts and we hope that even more New Zealanders will get behind our virtual door this Christmas and open a door for children’s futures.

“All it takes is a few clicks to change a child’s life.”

ENDS

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