Shahd Alsaqqa from Gaza (age 7) is pictured as she helps Trócaire to launch their new Gift of Play and Healing

Meath spent €10,014 on Trócaire’s Christmas gifts last year

The people of Meath spent over €10,014 on Trócaire’s Christmas gift range last year, allowing the charity to provide families in the developing world with clean water, essential tools, livestock and help with education.

This year, Trócaire has launched a range of new gifts that help families and their children worldwide who are caught up in conflict in places such as Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

This includes Gift of Play & Healing (€40) that will help children to process the trauma of war, through the power of play therapy. Hunger can also be a constant companion for children caught in conflict, the Gift of Food & Nourishment (€50) this Christmas will help children with special food that will nourish growing bodies and saves lives.

With 23 ‘Gifts of Change’ to choose from ranging from €5 to €1,400, each Trócaire gift will support critical programmes across the world where Trócaire works. The gifts can be purchased online at www.trocaire.org/gifts or by calling 1800 408 408 (0800 912 1200 in NI).

Launching the annual range of sustainable and ethical gifts, Trócaire’s CEO, Caoimhe de Barra said: 'Our 'Gifts of Change’ range receives incredible support every year from people in Ireland and their huge generosity supports our work in some of the world’s most fragile countries.  Over one million life-changing gifts have been purchased by the public in Ireland, north and south, since the initiative launched in 2000."

Trócaire’s 23 Gifts of Change include beehives for drought-stricken farmers and school kits and lunches for children across the world, alongside a range of climate gifts including the Gift of Seeds and Tools, the Gift of Water Systems, Climate Change Gift and Gift of Emergency Water.

The gifts can be purchased at  www.trocaire.org/gifts