Aerial Services Scotland Blog

Dear Mr McIver

Every year, I am simply blown away by the kindness shown to street children by our amazing supporters. I cannot thank you enough for your donations to give street children the most incredible, life-changing gift for Christmas this year – their birth certificates.

Christmas is an exceptionally busy time for all of us, so I hope this email catches you at a time when you can pause, perhaps with a cup of tea, and reflect for a moment about the happiness you have helped to bring to children’s lives this year.

I can’t think of a more joyful moment than when a child is first registered with their birth certificate. Some of my favourite photos to receive from the team in Guatemala are those of children proudly holding their brand-new birth certificates for the very first time. You really can see just how much it means to them.

I’m not sure it’s possible to capture just how joyful this moment truly is – but I think some of the photos and videos we recently received do a pretty good job. I do hope you enjoy watching the video below.

Thank you for your support this Christmas!

Once again, thank you so much for the incredible response to our Christmas Appeal so far. For children who have just received their birth certificates this Christmas, the new year marks the start of their new lives – with legal identities, official names, birthdays, and full and happy futures to look forward to. I think that is definitely something worth celebrating!

On behalf of all of Team Toybox, I sincerely hope you had a blessed and peaceful Christmas and wish you the happiest of New Years. May God bless you and keep you and your loved ones safe in 2022.

Yours,

Lynne Morris
Chief Executive

Hi Robert,
Thank you very much for your supporting our DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. Your donation of £150 really will make a difference.

Right now, we’re working tirelessly with our longstanding local partners in Afghanistan to be ready to support people of all faiths and none. We’re acting fast to bring emergency food, hygiene kits and shelter to vulnerable people, especially women and girls who are most at risk.

If you have a moment please share our appeal with your friends and family on social media using the links below.

Once again, thank you so much for your generous gift.

With sincere thanks,

Michael Mosselmans

Head of Humanitarian
Christian Aid

Dear R,

I am an elephant keeper at the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery Project—an IFAW-supported programme that rescues, rehabilitates and re-wilds orphaned elephants. I spend each day with our herd of 15 elephants, walking with them as they forage in the bush. Our goal for every elephant is that they will one day integrate with a wild elephant herd and return to the wild. But it can take many years.

That’s why the first time I saw wild elephants interacting with our elephants on one of our walks, it was so amazing. It showed me in my heart what I knew in my head—that all animals truly belong in the wild.

Right now IFAW is running a #BackToTheWild fundraising campaign to help animals like our elephants in Zimbabwe. When you make a gift, it will go twice as far for animals, thanks to a £150,000 Matching Gift Challenge from Munchkin.

When a young elephant is orphaned, it is very unlikely that they will survive on their own. It can take years of care before they’re fully grown and ready to join a wild herd. They also must learn how to bond with other elephants.

Something beautiful that happens here is that the orphaned elephants who are rescued bond with each other; the herd becomes a family. They move together in the bush and protect each other. The older elephants look after the babies.

One of our newest elephants is Moses. He joined us about four months ago and I am happy to tell you that he is making incredible progress—feeding well and drinking milk.

One of the older female elephants, Nkanyezi, is acting as his adoptive mother, making sure he is safe in the bush. And he’s become great friends with Chipo, a female calf, who is like an older sister to him.

My hope is that someday Moses—and all of the elephants here—will return to the wild. Your support is part of what makes that possible. If you can, please make a gift to IFAW’s #BackToTheWild Drive while it can still go twice as far, thanks to the Munchkin match challenge.

Thank you very much for supporting Moses and the other 14 elephants that we have here, and for all you do for animals around the world.
Sincerely,
Paradzai Mutize
Head of ZEN Re-Wilding —Wild is Life-ZEN

Hi Robert

This new year, as we reach our 125th anniversary, we’re asking pet lovers to take on our 3,125 Sit-ups in February Challenge to help us continue to provide the vital advice and specialist care that vulnerable pets and people need

Join an amazing community of fundraisers and register for your official FREE 3,125 Sit-ups in February t-shirt.

Do it wherever and however you like. It’s FREE to take part and there’s no maximum sponsorship amount for you to raise, we only ask that you raise as much as you can to help pets like Rocky who needed emergency care to save his life. Read Rocky’s story here.

Have you got what it takes to complete 3,125 Sit-ups in a month? Or do you know someone who has – if so, why not forward this email on to them and see if they’re up for the challenge too. Together, we will change lives.

Best wishes

Emma Ransome
Events Manager

Dear Robert,

2021 was not an easy year, but your amazing support and generosity has made life better for thousands of children around the world.
Your help has been invaluable through challenging times and we can’t thank you enough.
We just know 2022 is going to be an even better year and that together we will reach and protect even more vulnerable children and families that need us. We’ll be in touch soon to show you the incredible impact you’ve had on their lives in 2021 and to share our plans for an exciting year ahead.
For now, we just wanted to say Happy New Year and thanks again for everything you do.

Helen Shepard
Supporter Engagement Manager

Dear R,

Elephants still need our help…

We have been campaigning for a long time to protect elephants and other ivory-bearing species. In recent weeks we have seen significant improvements to their protection and I wanted to update you on the news.

In December the European Union, one of the largest exporters of ivory in the world, finally passed strict restrictions on the ivory trade. This was a monumental victory which we hope will reduce the demand for ivory, and therefore the number of elephants illegally killed for their ivory. We’re so proud of the supporters who have backed our campaigns to help make this possible.

Meanwhile, in the UK we received yet another delay to the Ivory Act. It’s now more than three years since Parliament passed the legislation, but the Government has announced a further delay of two months due to “technical issues”. You can read more about the delay and our concerns here.

We have been campaigning for a long time for this vital legislation to be enacted, but as this delay shows, the fight is still not over. We need your help to ensure that what the Government brings into force will be as effective as possible. We are concerned that what has been proposed could continue to risk elephants and other species being poached for their ivory. Please tell the Government: The ivory trade is cruel and barbaric. The Ivory Act must be made as effective as possible.

Our research last year showed that a significant amount of ivory continues to be legally bought and sold in the UK every single day. Our 12-day snapshot of research discovered 913 items of ivory available for sale online, averaging around 76 items a day.
speak up and take action today >>
The legal ivory trade provides a smokescreen for illegal trade and with elephant populations already decimated by the poaching crisis, time really is running out. With thousands of elephants a year still being poached for the ivory trade, it’s vital that our Government implements a strong UK ivory ban urgently. Join us in urging the UK Government to make the Ivory Act as effective as possible.

Your action today could help save thousands of elephants from being mercilessly slaughtered by ruthless poachers and put an end to the cruel ivory trade once and for all.

Thank you.

-James Sawyer, UK Director, IFaw

Dear Robert,

When Mafoudiya was born, her mother, Mabinty, couldn’t truly enjoy her child’s bright eyes or sweet smile because of a worry that consumed her.

Her daughter had been born with a cleft lip, and Mabinty knew that without access to medical help, her little girl would forever be burdened by her condition.

As Mafoudiya grew the other children in her community would mock her, even calling her a demon.

This broke her mother’s heart, but without access to surgery, there was nothing she could do.

Then the family learned about a hospital ship coming to their country.

Mother and daughter set off on a long journey from their village to be seen by a team of medical professionals onboard the Africa Mercy.

After volunteer surgeons onboard the hospital ship repaired her cleft lip, Mafoudiya’s radiant smile shone even brighter than before.

Mabinty shared the joy of her little girl’s healing.
“I waited for this for so long. I am so grateful and so happy,” she said.

Your partnership makes this possible. Your support means children like Mafoudiya are able to find the healing they so desperately need!

-Mercy Ships

Dear Mr McIver,

2021 has been a challenging year, but thanks to your support we have been able to continue educating and caring for 19,000 of the world’s poorest children in the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras and Tanzania.

The Sisters of Mary have visited many of the most deprived communities during the year and together we have welcomed nearly 5000 new children into our care. With your help we have protected these vulnerable boys and girls and provided the vital support needed to help them thrive.

Our schools continue to be places of warmth and laughter with the children loving their lessons, studying hard and passing exams. We have adapted our teaching, going online when face to face classes were not possible and the children have graduated from school with valuable skills and most importantly found jobs so they can help themselves and their families onto a better life.

Education is the key for the poorest children. In our care these boys and girls are healthier, happier and more loved because of you and they now have the skills to give them hope for a brighter future.

From each of us here at World Villages for Children, the Sisters at the programmes worldwide and all the children in our care thank you Mr McIver for all your support in 2021.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nicola, Paul, Collette and Callum

Dear Robert,

A few weeks ago, as part of our #GrantOneWish Christmas campaign, we told you about 13-year-old Jamal* who we found on the streets in Mwanza. Our team gave him and his family the support they needed to grant his wish for a safe and happy home.

I have been working closely with his family and visited recently to see how they were getting on. Jamal has been living safely back at home now for several months since we reunited the family and I want to share the update with you. It is a very different household to the one we first visited.

Both Jamal’s parents are feeling really positive and have learnt to deal with their conflicts in a calm and constructive way through the therapy sessions provided.

Jamal’s mother said: “I have learned to manage my emotions, especially when I am angry. Just recently I had a misunderstanding with my husband we managed to listen to each other and resolved the issue positively. Our children no longer witness us parents fighting, our family relationships have all improved, and our children are closer and more open with us.”

Jamal himself has settled back into school and mum told us: “The teacher says Jamal has potential and he is working hard at school.” At the same time both parents are now making enough money to support the children as well as pay for extra essentials.

She added: “Thanks to your help we are now providing school materials for the children and making sure they get three meals a day.”

We are so proud of the progress this whole family has made. Thanks to your donations they have a brighter future ahead and will continue to grow and thrive together.

Thank you,
Mary Gatama

Programme Manager Tanzania

Hi Robert,
The severe crisis in Afghanistan is pushing 8 million people to the brink of famine. In this freezing winter, vulnerable women, men and children urgently need your help.

You may have recently received our Christmas appeal letter and emails, but I am writing to you again as a matter of urgency.

Millions of families are hungry, homeless and heartbroken. Will you send a gift today to help people facing this crisis?

For many years, I’ve been working on Christian Aid’s response to emergencies, and this is one of the gravest humanitarian crises I have ever seen. My colleague in Afghanistan reports that “We are witnessing suffering like never before”. That’s why we’re joining forces with DEC charities to respond to this disaster. With your help, together we can save lives now.

Right now, we’re working tirelessly with our longstanding local partners in Afghanistan to be ready to support people of all faiths and none. We’re acting fast to bring emergency food, hygiene kits and shelter to vulnerable people, especially women and girls who are most at risk. But we need your help. If we don’t act now, many lives will be lost in this freezing winter.

With sincere thanks,
Michael Mosselmans
Head of Humanitarian

Christian Aid