Oxfam Unwrapped
November 29th 2007 01:33 pm
Oxfam Unwrapped, it sounds like a site exposing the real harm done by Oxfam or something. It is actually a great idea, giving people a little card to show you donated an amount of money to Oxfam rather than spend a few quid on something they may not even like. Also there is nothing like a bit of conspicuous giving to alleviate guilt. It hits the emotions too, I bought part of a school in Africa apparently (I suppose because “£5 could buy part of a school” does not sound as good). I wonder if anyone really thinks that the money they spend does end up where it says on the card, half of oxfams money would go in the infrastructure to support the tracking and allocation of it all.
I went 50/50 for my £10 secret santa gift, getting some Fair Trade chocolate to wrap up alongside the card.
louisa responded on 29 Nov 2007 at 6:04 pm #
I have a friend who loves cows so I bought a calf on her behalf for her birthday a couple of years ago.
Multiple times a year since then I’ve been sent a very glossy, thick brochure/set of leaflets about Oxfam Unwrapped’s new gift ideas, even though I’m pretty sure if there was one, I’d have ticked the “no spam for me, please” box.
The printing/posting costs bother me but the dead tree cost bothers me even more - plus, they come in those plastic bag things so even more waste.
I know I’m probably not typical when it comes to these things and that they have probably assessed that those mail drops are worthwhile in generating repeat business etc, but it really, really puts me off using them every again. Bah.