We are huge believers in teaching our children about other parts of the world, not only so they can become more educated, but also so they can get a better perspective of opportunities and how fortunate they are to live in Canada.

We have travelled to various countries, showed our children homes where goats are tied to the doorways, not as a pet but as a feast for the family.  They have seen communities that do not have clean water or been to places that have had a constant military presence.  They have seen, but they also very easily forget.

Image Credit © UNICEF/PFPG2015-3293/Page

When you have a hefty stock of firewood and a pantry filled with food it IS hard to forget how lucky you are.  When some days feel like the challenges of balancing time, money and family are too much, it is hard to comprehend that to have these “bad” days is nothing compared to what many others experience.

Image Credit: © UNICEF/IRQA2015-00162/Khuzaie

So many people are supportive and aware of supporting others, especially around the holidays, but there is sometimes more we can experience to understand how far our gifts have gone.

Image Credit: © UNICEF/NYHQ2009-0222/Estey

Right now, with the purchase of some UNICEF Survival gifts, they will share with you a UNICEF 360° Viewer. This is a simple cardboard viewer that works with your iPhone and a special UNICEF 360° app to give you, and your family an up close and personal experience with some of the 190 countries that UNICEF is currently on the ground and offering support in.

My kids were able to ask questions about what they were seeing and getting a better understand of what need really is.  The viewer and app created conversation in our family, and that conversation led my kids to asking how they could help.

And that is exactly what education should do.

When we see problems, we look for solutions. By allowing our kids to SEE other communities and understand what the conditions are, perhaps they will be the ones who are committed to finding solutions. By having our kids experience the life of a Syrian child in a refugee camp, we can build empathy and a deeper understanding

When Canadians send Survival Gifts—like vaccinations, school supplies and bed nets—they are responding to the life-saving needs of children, and when you have a chance to actually SEE that, it is a much bigger deal that you think.

Right now you can visit the UNICEF site and choose to support children in one of the countries that UNICEF is working in, by purchasing healthcare, clean water, food security, education and emergency relief. Gifts with a “viewer” symbol will ensure that a UNICEF 360° Virtual Reality viewer is sent to YOU so you can join UNICEF in the field and see where your gifts are being sent. For more information and to give a Survival Gift this holiday season, visit unicef.ca

This post was sponsored by UNICEF but the opinions are my own. For more information on UNICEF Survival Gifts, please click here.