On Gifts of Hope

How do I know that the gift will really be delivered? Do I get a photo of the child who receives my gift?

At the end of the campaign period, we will report on how many gifts were delivered in total. To find out, you can view our success stories. Due to logistic considerations, we are unable to take a photo of every child that receives a gift.

Will all the money be used for the gifts? Is a percentage used for administrative costs?

For last year’s Gifts of Hope, we 5% was spent on administrative costs – such as printing catalogues, sending them out, volunteer compensation, sending gifts cards etc.

Will my gift reach by Christmas?

We will collect all the funds before purchasing the gifts. This is more efficient than buying a book every time someone gives RM20. Also, it gives us better bargaining power when we buy in bulk. The campaign ends 31 March 2010, so the gifts will be distributed in the middle to the last quarter of the year.

Can I get a tax exemption for my donation?

Contributions to World Vision Malaysia are not tax-deductible. According to tax laws, at least 80% of the funds must be used within the country to qualify for tax deductions. World Vision Malaysia’s focus is alleviating poverty in other developing countries.

What are the gift cards for?

The whole idea is that you can buy a unique gift in your friend’s name. For example, you give a goat to a family in your friend’s honour. We’ll give you a gift card to send to your friend, telling him/her about the gift given in their name. (Maximum of 1 card per gift).

On beneficiary countries

Why do we focus on these particular countries?

Every year, we focus on a few countries so that we can make a substantial impact. If we spread our resources too thinly, we would not make a significant difference. In the past 4 years, the gifts have gone to China, East Timor, Lebanon, Mongolia, Bosnia, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Where is Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is an Eastern European country bordering Armenia, Georgia, Iran and Russia. It gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 but became embroiled in a war with neighboring Armenia over disputed territory. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have not been able to return home for the past 17 years. World Vision’s work in Azerbaijan focuses on refugees as they remain marginalized and vulnerable. Children with disabilities are traditionally separated from their families and communities and are denied the right to education. (Note: Playground equipment is for children with disabilities.)

Where is Sudan?

Sudan is in northeastern Africa. Conflict, poverty and hunger have long been associated with Sudan due to the decades-long civil war. Millions of lives have been lost while millions more have been forced from their homes.

On gifts

Why are the cows so expensive?

Cows are prized as highly valued income-generating assets. A gift of a cow to a family will greatly help them improve their income, because cows will produce offspring which can be sold.

The only gift that is ongoing is Child Sponsorship?

Yes, child sponsorship is an ongoing commitment to improve the lives of children and their communities. The gift of RM50 per month will go towards developing your sponsored child’s community – providing food, clean water, health care, education and economic development. The other gifts are all one-off contributions.

How do I “buy” child sponsorship for my friend?

Basically, you pay for the sponsorship (usually for a year) – and your friend receives the welcome kit, annual progress report and other World Vision correspondence You can give the gift card (provided for free) to your friend to let him/her know of the gift that you’ve given in his/her name.

I have some old books at home. Can I send them to Indonesia?

The cost of shipping is very high. It’s more worth it to buy in Indonesia itself, and this helps the economy as well too. This applies for the local gifts as well.