Glasgow, Scotland -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/10/2009 -- SCIAF is urging Scots to buy Real Gifts for family and friends this Christmas and make a real difference to communities living in poverty around the world.

Last Christmas, shoppers from across Scotland raised over £252,000 with SCIAF Real Gifts and gave some of the world’s poorest people the tools, training, and support they needed to create a better life for themselves and their families.

When you buy a Real Gift, the money you spend goes directly to a SCIAF project in Africa, Asia or Latin America which provides your chosen gift. The new range of festive Real Gifts is packed with life-changing presents including seeds (£10), which enable families to grow enough food, basket weaving (£19) which gives women with the skills and equipment they need to earn a living by making and selling baskets, and training for a midwife (£70) who will go on to save lives.

This year, shoppers will not only get a beautiful card with each SCIAF Real Gift they buy, they will also receive a specially designed fridge magnet to remind them of the difference their Real Gift is making.

SCIAF’s Frances Rayner said: “Real Gifts make great presents because they allow you to share something extraordinary with the people you love. Instead of exchanging socks or book tokens this Christmas, you could give a gift that helps to change lives – like chickens, essential medicines or water for an entire village!

“By choosing a SCIAF Real Gift, you bring real and lasting change to a family or community living in poverty and give them the chance of a better future.”

Across Africa, Asia and Latin America, many thousands of children are denied an education because their parents can’t afford the basic items they need to attend school. SCIAF’s star gift this Christmas is a school starter pack. For just £26, you can share the gift of education and provide a child with everything they need to go to school, including books, stationery, a school bag – even a uniform.

Thanks to the practical support she received from SCIAF, Spes from Burundi was able to gain an education and fulfil her potential. She is now a teacher and is sharing her gift with a new generation of children.

For as little as £10, Scots can do something amazing this Christmas and help someone living in poverty to create a better life for themselves and their family.

Shoppers can also make a general donation to SCIAF in someone’s name and receive a gift card and magnet in return.

Order your Real Gifts online now at http://www.sciaf2.org.uk/realgifts or call 0141 354 5555 to get your copy of the Real Gifts Christmas catalogue.