Giving the gift of joy at Christmas
The Kinderzukunft foundation collects gifts for children who grow up in impoverished conditions. They transport the gifts to Eastern Europe and the Balkans in lorries.
Some people can hardly imagine Christmas without gifts, yet that’s the reality for many children. Since 1995, the foundation “Kinderzukunft” has been sending presents to Eastern Europe to bring a little joy to children who are growing up in poverty and sickness. “Numerous companies, schools, nurseries, clubs and private individuals are on board again this year too,” reports Project Coordinator Silja Ommert. “This will ensure many happy children’s faces in the destination countries.”
Donations are collected Germany-wide
Donations can be handed in at centres all over Germany. Lovingly wrapped, they include everything that children like: sweets, toys, crayons, arts and crafts articles. Volunteers package up and send off the donations from Hesse. In the first two weeks of December, six lorries travel to Eastern Europe and the Balkans, where the gifts are dropped off for example at orphanages or centres for the disabled. The destination countries are Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine. In 2022, around 38,000 parcels were sent to children in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
“We are very happy that despite the ongoing war in Ukraine it will be possible once again to spread some Christmas joy to the children there,” explains Ommert. Contact could also be reestablished with the foundation’s cooperation partner, the Workers’ Samaritan Federation, this year.
Reliant on solidarity
Besides the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ommert reports on the particular challenge posed by inflation. “Although we realise that everyone is facing rising costs, we are particularly pleased when people also donate four euros per parcel to cover the costs of transport.” The Kinderzukunft foundation is grateful for the solidarity that people are showing in Germany, and for all the time that volunteers donate. “You also get something back in return,” says Wolfram Jäkel: “It gives me so much pleasure to imagine the shining eyes of all the children when they are handed these parcels.”
The foundation has been working for over 35 years to improve the future prospects of children who grow up in poverty. With its own children’s villages, as well as food and education projects worldwide, the foundation Kinderzukunft tackles poverty directly at source, while at the same time providing lasting assistance.
