Today is Blog Action Day 2008, and the theme this year is Poverty. This has given us here at Oxjam a nice opportunity to pause and talk about the very real effect that your contributions have on bettering the lives of others, and also to thank all who have participated so far in Oxjam 2008 for their hard work and kindness.

Oxjam is all about channeling your creativity and talent and having fun, and it has also has a real and tangible effect. For example:

The 13% of children entering secondary school mark Tanzania out as having one of the lowest rates in the world. The average teacher:pupil ratio is 1:66.

Oxfam Ireland supports education projects in some of the poorest parts of Tanzania with some of the worst statistics.

€53 will provide one child with:

• a school uniform
• school fees for 1 year
• school books & writing material
• and a school bag

If your Oxjam gig raises even just over €200, you have sent four children to school. It can be hard for us to understand how much hope that can give.  Thank you.  This has been the biggest and best Oxjam Ireland ever.  (And we’re only halfway through the month!)

To mark the day, why not donate to Oxfam Ireland, or purchase a life-saving gift from Oxfam Ireland Unwrapped?