Hello Compassion Ambassadors!
It’s no secret that our world has been irrevocably changed. Because of the pandemic, global poverty rates are rising in ways we haven’t seen in decades.
We are so thankful for people like you who won’t stand-by in the face of such overwhelming need around the world.
We’re excited to present an opportunity to partner together this Christmas season to raise funds for urgent needs facing children and families living in poverty.
Each Christmas, Gifts of Compassion presents Canadians with opportunities meet real needs identified by local leaders in the communities where we work. This year, we want to invite you to present one of those needs to your audience on social media over a four-week period leading up to Christmas.
We’ll provide everything you need—a personal fundraising page, photos, videos and graphics to share on social media, and captions and scripts to help you share them. All you need to do is what you do best: be authentic and inspiring.
We are inviting you to fundraise for one of the three most pressing needs facing children in poverty right now: Washrooms, Survival (Moms and Babies) and Education. Read more about each need below, choose which one to fundraise for, and connect with Mike deBoer to let him know you’re in and ask any questions you have.
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Option #1: Washrooms
Almost every kid has had an adult tell them that toilet talk is rude outside of very specific situations. But here’s the thing: talking about toilets is vital in the fight against poverty. There are few things that are a greater need—and can have a greater impact—for children in poverty than safe washrooms. So, let’s talk toilets.
Around the world, about 2.4 billion people don’t have access to safe washrooms. This directly contributes to the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. And this has a huge impact on children in particular: countries where open defecation is most widespread have the highest number of under-5 child deaths.
Safe washrooms are particularly important for women and girls. Globally, at least 500 million women and girls lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management. Dignity, safety, opportunity and education for women and girls are all impacted by access to safe washrooms and sanitation services.
When you fundraise for safe washrooms, it’s about more than just getting a giggle out of toilet talk. You’re providing health, hygiene, dignity and opportunity to people in desperate need.
Set up your personal fundraising page
Note: Please connect with Mike before setting up your personal fundraising page.
How to share about your fundraiser
In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Mike will email you personalized weekly assets to help you share about your fundraiser on social media. In addition, here is a collection of shareable content about Washrooms that you can add to your personalized assets if you wish.
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Option #2: Moms and Babies
In high- and upper-middle-income countries, more than 90 per cent of all births benefit from the presence of a trained midwife, doctor or nurse. In low-income countries, fewer than half of all births are assisted by a skilled health professional. This has devastating results: in 2017, approximately 295,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth. 94 per cent of these deaths occurred in low-resource settings and could have been prevented.
Of course, poor health outcomes are not just a reality for new moms, but even more so for new babies. The early days of life—the first 28 days, the first year and the first five years—are critical for children. But the heartbreaking reality is this:
- In 2019, 4 million children died in the first month of life.
- Approximately 250 million children under five in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their development potential because of extreme poverty and stunting.
Around the world, Compassion’s Survival programs work to change these realities. When you fundraise for Moms and Babies, you are helping young families dream for the future, even in uncertain times.
Set up your personal fundraising page
Note: Please connect with Mike before setting up your personal fundraising page.
How to share about your fundraiser
In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Mike will email you personalized weekly assets to help you share about your fundraiser on social media. In addition, here is a collection of shareable content about Moms and Babies that you can add to your personalized assets if you wish.
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Option #3: Education for Kids
Before the pandemic, lack of education was already a major issue facing children and youth in poverty. Roughly one in five school-aged children are not in school and approximately 617 million children and youth globally are unable to reach minimum proficiency levels in reading and math, even though two-thirds of them are in school.
Now, the pandemic is exacerbating those realities. More than 1 billion children are at risk of falling behinddue to pandemic-related education interruptions. In 2020, 101 million additional children and youth fell below minimum reading proficiency levels, wiping out education gains achieved over the last 20 years.
This issue disproportionately affects girls. Experts estimate that 11 million girls will leave school permanently because of the pandemic. Only 66 per cent of countries have achieved gender parity in primary education and most of the 773 million illiterate adults around the world are women.
Compassion’s education initiatives make a huge difference. When you fundraise for education, children and youth are given the resources and opportunity to pursue education in a way that fits their goals.
Set up your personal fundraising page
Note: Please connect with Mike before setting up your personal fundraising page.
How to share about your fundraiser
In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, Mike will email you personalized weekly assets to help you share about your fundraiser on social media. In addition, here is a collection of shareable content about Education for Kids that you can add to your personalized assets if you wish.
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