Scottish Catholic Observer

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund has launched its new Real Gifts campaign in time for Easter, helping supporters find meaningful presents for friends and family while helping those in need all year round.

Gifts such as chickens (£14) provide families with regular eggs, and sheep (£30) can give families a regular supply of milk and wool.  Lambs can also be used for food or can be sold to buy medicines or pay school fees.

For just £10 children (above) in  places such as Cambodia can receive library books to help them learn a variety of subjects and the shopper ordering the SCIAF Real Gift for Easter receives a card and fridge magnet to show the recipient the difference that has been made in their name

Among some of the new gifts added this year is a loan for a budding businesswoman (£32), which gives women in poor communities the funds they need to start a local enterprise that will improve the life of her and her family.

And the Real Gift of the right to a home (£36) helps communities in Colombia campaign for the rights to land that their families have been living on for generations, but have been forced to flee due to conflict and violence.

Frances Rayner, SCIAF’s fundraising officer, said that Real Gifts are the perfect idea ‘if people cannot decide what to get for the person who has everything’ as it can be ‘life changing to a person who has very little.’

“Real Gifts are a great way to celebrate Father’s Day, Confirmations, birthdays and weddings,” Ms Rayner said. “The money received goes directly to support SCIAF projects in Africa, Asia or Latin America.”

Real Gifts come complete with a card and fridge magnet to show the recipient the difference that has been made in their honour.

Real Gifts are not just a good idea for Easter, they are perfect all year round, but if givers want their card to be delivered in time for Easter they need to order their gift no later than Monday April 18.

—To order your Real Gift simply call SCIAF on: 0141 345 5555 or go online at: http://www.sciaf.org.uk/realgifts.