Do you know how to spell your name? If so, you’re already many steps ahead of millions of children in third world countries. Whether in Africa, India, South America, or elsewhere, young people around the world face constant barriers in getting an education—and that can have profound, lifelong consequences.

However, some people would do anything to ensure that these children receive the schooling that they need and deserve. For three teachers across the globe, making sure that children receive an education isn’t just an interest—it’s a duty.

 Inspiring Stories of Amazing Teachers 

Everyone has probably had that one teacher who made a difference in their life. But for children who can’t typically access education due to political conflict, cost, geography, poverty, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, a few teachers have stepped up in their communities to bring them the schooling they need.

Going the Distance

The sun is up early in the small region of Prey Veng in Cambodia, but the ardent teacher Seng is up even earlier. Attaching a cart to the back of her motorbike, she’s off to pick up children for preschool.

For the last 15 years, Seng has managed a community preschool, but many of her students rarely attended because the facility was three or more kilometers away from their homes. Because parents often couldn’t bring the children themselves, she decided it was time to take action on her own.

Early in the morning, the familiar sound of the motorbike brings the kids out to hop into the cart, and at the end of the day, Seng makes the same trip again to drop them off at home. Thanks to her efforts, the number of children attending preschool has multiplied drastically.

Seng won’t let the geographic and opportunity failings of her impoverished regions to deny children the right to an education. And she’s doing something about it.

Bringing the Classroom Home

Across the globe in Balochistan, Pakistan, another teacher is making waves to ensure that students aren’t locked out of schooling. Najeeba saw that COVID-19 had shut down schools, and her family stopped going. Determined to ensure they continued their learning, Najeeba crafted a sanitization station outside her home and called for all the students to attend there.

In place of a closed school, Najeeba turned her home into a classroom. WhatsApp groups experienced in home schooling have flocked to help her as she manages the daunting task of educating these students—even though she is a student herself.

Najeeba refused to give in when COVID-19 shut down schools. And now, students are continuing their education through her. 

Give a gift that will make a real difference in the lives of children 

Down to the southeast of Indonesia, the small island nation of East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, a teacher named Nicolau has acquired land on which to build a school accessible to more students than ever before.

With educational facilities miles out of reach for many rural families, Nicolau was upset—even at his own situation. Forced out of school at a young age himself due to political conflict, Nicolau vowed to bring education to those less fortunate. He recalled that during the time he was in school, the situation was so dire that even 17-year-olds were still studying in Grade 1 because they did not have the time or opportunity to attend regularly.

Convincing the local parents and authorities that a school was worthwhile proved to be a challenge—they believed that since girls were meant to get married and men to work, schooling was a pointless use of time. However, Nicolau never gave up, and his convincing prompted an important official to gift the land on which his school was built.

Now, with access to proper educational tools and even critical resources like water, the community is flourishing. 

Conclusion 

These teachers have made massive impacts in the lives of their communities. However, they could not have done it alone—Nicolau’s school, for example, still required the help of charitable causes. If you would like to give the gift of life-changing education to a family in a third world country, consider donating to CFTW. We build educational and medical facilities in areas that do not have access to them so that the families living their can receive the rights to education and health that they deserve, setting themselves up for future success. Even a few dollars can buy critical materials like textbooks and access to clean water.

Christmastime is here, and with it, the world shifts toward thoughts of gift, the joy of the season, and happiness. The sharing and caring, the demonstrations of love—these are what characterize Christmas and the jolly old man in red himself. For most people, the joy of the season is giving gifts that light up the faces of their loved ones and friends. Maybe it’s time to think outside your circle and consider what a very small gift could do for others?

COVID-19, lockdowns, wars, disasters, poverty—the world is full of suffering and sorrow. Hope is dying, and more and more people are struggling to find joy and peace in their lives. This Christmas season, you can be the light of hope that many people have given up on finding.

Be Generous, Be the Light of Hope 

You don’t need to be an army general, a famous politician, or a celebrity in order to inspire people—in fact, people don’t need to know who you are at all. You don’t have to be rich to make a difference. What you can do is your best.

Go to Old Age Homes to Celebrate Christmas 

One easy and fun option to be generous this Christmas season is with your time. Visit nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to spend time with the residents. You may bring simple gifts like socks if you wish; they’re easy to afford and can make a big difference in the comfort of the people who live there.

If you don’t have a few dollars to spare, your time alone is your generosity. Listen to these folks, some of whom have no family that comes to visit. They have amazing stories to tell, and they rarely get to tell them. Sit down and have a warm conversation this holiday season.

Give Gifts to Orphans in Orphanages 

Children who live in orphanages do not get to celebrate Christmas the way that most kids do. They might have a community Christmas where everyone receives a bar of candy, but there’s something special about getting a gift that’s given just to you.

Children in orphanages might appreciate books or small toys. You don’t have to break the bank, and these young ones can experience the joy of receiving a present wrapped just for them. Consider fun options like games that you can show them how to play so that they can spend some time with folks on Christmas!

Give Gifts to Special Children 

Not all children experience Christmas the same way. For some with processing disorders and other challenges, the season full of lights, glitter, and admittedly sometimes blaring music can cause stress, fear, and discomfort. This is not how Christmas should feel!

Consider offering different gifts to these children, even if they may be a bit more challenging to buy for. Excellent options include weighted blankets, noise-cancelling earbuds, or engaging puzzle toys that they can solve with their hands. If you’re not sure what to get, a donation to a worthwhile charity can make that decision in your place based on what they know the child likes!

Visit a Slum Area and Spread Joy 

Due to economic opportunity and other factors, many people who struggle to afford the traditional trappings of Christmas live in the same area. Consider spending time visiting a slum area and spreading joy to the families there. Many of them have likely given up on Christmas entirely, or they may be feeling inadequate that they can’t provide the Christmas they’d like.

Simple tasks like handing out canned goods or clothes can go a long way toward making these families’ Christmas bright. Consider providing necessities, and if you have some resources left over, throw in a treat or two. You will bring light and hope to dozens of people this way.

Donate to CFTW for Education or Health Welfare 

Charities play a big part in the Christmas season, and CFTW is no exception. We strive to give children and families around the world access to the education and healthcare resources that they need to thrive.

Many folks have never learned to read or write, and if they fall ill, medical care is too far away or too expensive. For these families, CFTW relies on the power of donations to fund the care and treatment that they deserve. CFTW builds schools and mobile health units to improve access worldwide.

Donate to build a better world. Your small contribution could forever change the life of a child or family, and there is no greater generosity than being someone’s light of hope in a dark time.

The Christmas season is fast approaching, and for many people, it’s their favorite time of the year. There’s something irreplaceable about watching someone receive something they desperately wanted and the joy that lights up their face. Christmas is about giving and sharing—but for many around the world, Christmas is a reminder that they don’t have what they need. While millions across the globe tear into new toys, some sit at home fearing for their health, safety, and future. But with a little Christmas generosity, you can give them the best gifts they’ve ever received.

The Best Christmas Gifts You Can Give 

The real spirit of Christmas isn’t about getting things; it’s about making others happy and ensuring they have what they need. This is why many people appreciate getting money instead of physical objects—they can use that money to purchase what they desperately need. The same is true for charities, and giving even a few dollars can make a dramatic change in someone’s life.

Heading 3: Give Child A Gift Of Education 

If you’re reading this article, you have already received the gift of education. Unfortunately, a huge percentage of children across the world are desperately trying to attend school to better their lives, but instead, they must spend their time collecting garbage for money for their families. Imagine where you would be if you had never been given the gift of going to school and instead had to work hard labor when you were just a small child.

Unable to read or write, what jobs or tasks could you perform? Children who don’t get an education struggle to support themselves and break out of poverty. If you donate to charities that offer educational access to children, you’re giving them the best gift they could ask for: opportunity. A chance to be and do what they want.

And just maybe, the cure for cancer can be found in the mind of a child who just needs an opportunity.

Give A Gift Of Health 

Few things hold more value than life; after all, you wouldn’t be here without it. Many people in the slums of India and Africa fear that they may not even make it to tomorrow because of the dangerous pandemic currently ravaging the world.

Even a small donation can literally save the life of a human being—and what greater gift could you offer than someone’s life? Their life may be filled with opportunity, joy, and love, but they need to stay healthy and safe in order to enjoy these things.

Donate to save someone’s life. It’s the biggest blessing you can offer.

Give A Gift Of Winter Warmer And Socks  

Climate change continues to impact all parts of the globe, and never before seen cold weather has hit the slums of India hard. Simple gifts like hand warmers, hats, and socks can mean the difference between freezing and suffering injury or staying safe and warm.

Simple items like socks and mittens are only a few dollars. For less than the price of a cup of coffee, you can save a human being from suffering, injury, or even death in the cold. A donation to help those in need is a simple and powerful Christmas gift.

Feed A Hungry Person  

As you contemplate what side dishes to prepare for your Christmas dinner, remember that hundreds of thousands around the world haven’t eaten in days. In Africa, thousands of children are unable to even walk because they don’t receive the calories and nutrients they need.

Instead of leaving cookies out for Santa, partner with a charity like UNICEF to offer therapeutic milk, which contains energy, fat, and minerals needed by starving children to make a recovery. If you can afford to leave milk and cookies for the imaginary symbol of ultimate generosity, why not put that to good use and feed a real child? 

Conclusion 

You may not bat an eye at snagging the $500 PlayStation 5 that just launched, or the $700 purse, or even the $50 toy. But just a fraction of that money combined with the efforts of a charity can make a lifetime’s difference in the lives of children and families around the world. Christmas is the season of giving and sharing—and for those who have more, what seems small to them can be monumental to those who have less. Remember the spirit of generosity this Christmas and donate to charities that offer people across the globe opportunities, education, and even life itself.