Charity launches alternative Christmas gift list

It might be a little early to start thinking about Christmas for many people, but if you are fed up with embarrassing socks, golf sets or scented candles, and want to do Christmas a bit differently this year a Christian charity might have just what you are looking for.

World Vision hit the headlines last year with their innovative Christmas catalogue that enabled people to send a goat, sheep or pig to Africa, as a gift on someone else's behalf.

The charity then sends a card with a personalised message to the person on whose behalf the livestock has been despatched.

This year the scheme has been extended and expanded with an even bigger range of gifts including whole flocks of sheep and herds of goats, but also allowing people to create their very own Christmas wish lists online.

And as you would expect they are wish lists with a difference.

The charity has set up a facility which allows the visitor to create their own unique and inspiring alternative Christmas gift list online, including a personalised welcome page. Those setting up their lists can even upload their own photograph (Santa hat and all if that is their thing).

Friends and family are then emailed with a link to the list so they can access it buy the requested gifts online.

The gift giving can be tracked by logging into a personal account at any time. Messages can also be left with season's greetings on a personalised message board.

This year there is also an expanded range of gifts to suit every budget with 72 gifts from a fruit tree for a fiver, a flock of sheep, a bog, or a plane full of emergency equipment.

Following a year of disasters from the Boxing Day Tsunami to earthquakes and famines, as well as the high profile MakePovertyHistory campaign, it is expected that the scheme will be a huge Christmas hit.

World Vision's special gift selection is now five years old. The results are admirable as well as ethical. Over 5,000 children have been immunised against six childhood killer diseases. Over 12,000 fruit trees have been planted, growing produce both to eat and sell. 3,000 children have had their sight restored through cataract operations.

To visit the World Vision charity gift web site click here