ABC of OCC - K

SP's Alan Cutting took this wonderful picture of
a child in Kyrgyzstan during the 2008 distribution

K is for Kyrgyzstan - which is one of the recipients of the shoeboxes this year. It is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. The country has suffered political upheaval and severe ethnic unrest in recent months.

Mountain ranges make it difficult for the team to reach out to parts of the country during winter, particularly in the south, however, last year we were able to send 66,202 shoeboxes to this needy country with the most beautiful children - although it can take up to 20 days for a container to get there.

When Chris Roberts, one of SP's Regional Managers went to Kyrgyzstan in the 2008/09 campaign he met a little girl he could'nt forget.

"Gula is twelve years old and lives with her older brother and baby sister in a small town in Kyrgyzstan. Due to her brother's illness, she takes on her mothers duties when she is out and when we call around with some shoeboxes she is preparing the evening meal. When she starts to open her box and take things out she has her head bowed and becomes very quiet.

'My mother has never been able to buy me things like this,' she says looking up with tears welling up in her eyes. 'She would have if she could'.

"We respond through the translator and she nods, smiling in response. Even as we leave, ten minutes later, it is clear that she is having great difficulty keeping her emotions in check".
Don't forget that you can still make a shoebox via Shoebox World - http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/shoeboxworld/