For many children, Christmas is a time to get new gifts, eat tasty food and go out as a family. Gifts in most cases are new clothes that we wear on Christmas day when we go to church or for an outing. This is not the case for some children who have to work very hard to get a Christmas dress on their own. Some children are from poor families that cannot afford while others are orphans who take care of themselves. Bernard Niyonsaba is 13 years old and he takes care of his two little sisters because they are orphans. During the holidays, Niyonsaba works hard so that he can get money to buy for himself and his sisters Christmas cloths. “I fetch water for my neighbours and each jerrycan costs Rwf50,” he says. Niyonsaba has saved Rwf3000 but it’s still not enough to buy all their clothes. This makes him look for more work so that he can earn more. For Emile Kwizera, carrying luggage has earned him money for the past three months. “Though luggage is heavy, I have to look smart like other children,” Kwizera proudly said. On Christmas Day, he wants to be the smartest at church since he has saved more than Rwf4,000 for shopping. Christmas is about giving. If you have so many clothes that you do not fit in, with the help of your parents, you can give them to children who do not have through orphanages or churches. Remember always that sharing is caring and blessings always follow those who care for others. Ends
