With only two months to Christmas, Aġenzija Appoġġ is seeking help to turn the dreams of 1,888 vulnerable children into reality.
Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Children’s Dreams project aims at making Christmas wishes come true for children from families facing social and financial difficulties, including those hosted at children’s homes.
Read: Helping to make children's dreams come true
From clothing vouchers to educational toys, this year’s wishes include a Rubik’s cube and a hair straightener to replace a damaged one owned by a 17-year-old who has started a hairdressing course.
The project, which follows a similar successful project in Lithuania, was brought over by Lina Pecorella.
It kicked off in 2013 with 100 dreams in the Cottonera area, and has continued to grow over the years.
The children’s wishes are published online and people can help their carers or guardians make these dreams come true by pledging a gift.
Once they buy the present, they can deliver it at Komunità Santa Marija, Ħal Farruġ.
Gifts are sorted at the foundation’s office and given to the children’s social workers. Each social worker then delivers the gifts to the children by Christmas Day.
FSWS CEO Alfred Grixti said at the launch of this year’s campaign that all children are followed by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.
The kind of gifts handed out was being limited so that no extravagant requests are made, as that would be counterproductive, he explained.
Appoġġ services manager Remenda Borg Grech said benefactors have already started asking how they can help out with this year’s list of dreams.
All they want for Christmas…
Sven, 13, food vouchers
“My mother died when I was born, leaving four children behind – myself and three other siblings. My father is suffering from mental health issues and is not able to work. We are constantly lacking food even though we have a lot of support, especially from our social workers”
Charlene, 14, book vouchers
“Due to my physical disability I am quite restricted in what I do. I would like to have a book shop voucher as reading is one of my hobbies, and having different books keeps in occupied throughout the day.”
Simon, 14, vouchers for groceries
“My mummy is finding it difficult to buy food for me and my little brother. It would be great if we received some food vouchers to buy food for Christmas.”
Keith, 15, route bus vouchers
“I am living in a home as my parents are being treated at hospital. I’d like to visit them more frequently but I have to depend on different people for lifts or else I have to use the little money that I manage to save.”
Maye, 17, food vouchers
“I will be turning 18 soon and for the first time I am going to live independently after living in a residential home for years. I am currently having some financial difficulties to cope with the situation.”
http://www.childrendreams.org/