Doing good is always in fashion

More 4 Me

December 2009

This Christmas... is it all about getting "More 4 Me"?

A new film is looking at how Oxfam Unwrapped Gifts can make a tangible difference around the world.

In the face of the global financial crisis, "What’s the one thing we can’t live without?"

Filmmaker Lincoln Fenner journeys across 5 continents to interview everyone from actors to orphans to find out.

Check out the website for more information: www.more4memovie.com

Peter Rowsthorn supports one Christmas idea that’s no turkey

December 2009

Actor and comedian Peter Rowsthorn is encouraging Australians to make some extra room under their Christmas tree for a goat this year.

Peter has donated his time to Oxfam in a photo campaign to raise awareness about Oxfam Unwrapped, where you can purchase goats and other useful animals and items to support the our work with poor communities around the world.

"They say you should never work with children or animals but when I was approached by Oxfam to help encourage people to buy charity gifts this Christmas that rule went out the window."

"Most Christmas gifts are forgotten by New Year, but a goat from Oxfam will keep on giving milk and manure to people in Mozambique long into the future."

"Oxfam Unwrapped gifts are a great way to feel good on Christmas Day while helping Oxfam fight poverty around the world," Peter said.

This year, the purchase of a $39 goat from Oxfam Unwrapped will support our livelihoods work, including in the small town of Rovene in Mozambique where communities suffer severe food shortages as a result of ongoing drought.

Because goat rearing is also a traditional way of life in Rovene, we have been working with local partners since 2006 to create a ‘revolving goat fund’ in the community.

Orphans and vulnerable children are given a goat, and taught how to de-worm, vaccinate and look after the animals. The goats eat household food scraps, and provide milk for the children and manure for their gardens to help with growing food.

When the goats have kids, all but one of these can be sold to raise cash to provide families with income, that they can use to purchase food and pay for school fees.

The children must then donate one of the goats back to the community fund so that the cycle can continue, giving more families greater economic independence to help break their way out of poverty.

Oxfam Unwrapped Goats priced at $39 are just one of the many ways you can help poor communities this Christmas.