Trócaire praises Derry as 2023 Christmas gift appeal to help people of Gaza

Trócaire said it would like to thank the people of County Derry as they helped 1,300 families living in some of the world’s most fragile countries last year and spent over £27,200 on Trócaire’s Christmas Gifts.

Trócaire, celebrating 50 years of giving on their milestone anniversary this year, launched their life-changing Christmas Gifts of Change this week and are asking people to give a gift that really matters.

Launching the annual range of sustainable and ethical gifts, Trócaire’s Head of Region for Northern Ireland, Peter Heaney, said: “This year marks Trócaire’s 50th anniversary and in the time since our formation the people in Co. Derry have been open-handed in their generosity and support for our work in some of the world’s most fragile countries.

"One of the ways this generosity has manifested itself is the support we receive for our annual Gifts of Change campaign. Over one million life-changing gifts have been purchased by the public in Ireland, north and south, since we launched the initiative in 2000.’

"The horrific situation in Gaza is obviously front of mind for many people at the moment and we have two gifts that will help families caught up in conflict this year. The Gift of Family Essentials (£30) will bring vital comfort to children and families caught up in conflict in countries like Gaza, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Ukraine.

"This gift will provide families with survival kits, emergency dignity kits and food baskets. It will make all the difference to a family who have lost everything this Christmas. The Mental Health Lifeline Gift (£40) also provides women and children in Gaza access to vital mental health care.”

Trócaire has a range of climate gifts. The Gift of Seeds and Tools (£10) provides families with everything they need to plant, tend and grow healthy, nutritious, fresh fruit and vegetables.

A new Protection from Climate Change Gift (£85) will help struggling families respond to the effects of extreme weather.

Gifts for women include the Gift of Menstrual Dignity (£10) to provide girls with supplies for a safe and hygienic period,.

There is also a Women’s Empowerment Gift (£85) which helps set up women-led savings and loans groups to support local women to set up their own businesses.

In 2022/2023, Trócaire improved the lives of 1.58 million people in 23 of the most fragile countries in the world, thanks to the generous support of the public here at home.

This included supporting over 1.1 million people in humanitarian crises, 88,646 people to fight for access to justice in Central America, Palestine and Zimbabwe and 232,139 women and girls through empowerment programmes in fifteen countries. Last year, Trócaire’s climate and environmental justice work supported 278,082 people in nine countries.

There are 22 gifts, ranging from £5 to £1,400. The gifts can be purchased online at www.trocaire.org/gifts or by calling 0800 912 1200.

The full list of gifts are: Soap £5; Chicks £7; Menstrual Dignity £10; Seeds and Tools £10; Solar Lamp £10; Emergency Water £15; School Lunches £15; School Kit £20; Family Essentials £30; Mental Health Lifeline £40; Goats £40; Help for Grandparents £40; New Mother's Care Kit £45; Honey Bees £55; Protection from Climate Change £85; Water Systems £85; Women’s Empowerment £85; A Just World £85; A Safe Home £125; Ox Plough and Farming Tools £170; Fix a Well £1,000; Solar Panel Water Pump £1,400.