Operation Christmas child is a project set up by the charity ‘Samaritan’s Purse’. Ursuline High School has been encouraging students to participate in the shoebox appeal. The student packs a shoebox full of gifts such as fun toys, hygiene items and school supplies which is given a child who may be deprived of these things that we all often take for granted.

According to the Samaritan’s Purse website, the mission of Operation Christmas Child is to ‘show God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world’ and to ‘share the good news of Jesus Christ’. They also state that ‘since 1990, more than 146 million children in over 150 countries have experienced God's love through the power of simple shoebox gifts’. It is heart-warming to know that children are willing to help younger children across the world and change their lives for the better.

Ursuline has so far contributed over 100 shoeboxes so far, and is expected to collect more over the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays. As a Catholic school, Ursuline has taken part in this project every year with many students extremely keen to get involved. Niamh Laing, a year 12 student who has made multiple shoeboxes over her time at the school, said ‘I am so happy to have contributed what I could to such a beneficial charity’.

To get involved in Operation Christmas Child, visit: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child

Ciara Cannell, Ursuline High School