Reverse Advent calendar (Nuremberg)

Advent calendar

There were many discussions with numerous organisations that work with people in need. During these discussions, we learned that people are particularly willing to donate around Christmas time and that it is very difficult to find the ‘right people in need’ for our campaign.

We were also asked why everyone wants to help at Christmas and why those in need are not also in desperate need of help at other times of the year.

We are, of course, delighted about the great willingness to help. However, after the discussions, we decided not to carry out the project now, but at a later date.

We will hold discussions at the beginning of 2020 and then consider a ‘reverse Advent calendar’ at a ‘paradoxical time’.

Do you know of any organisations with which we could collaborate on such a project? Anyone with ideas and information is welcome to contact us.

With the project ‘Global Encounters – Newspaper Bags by and about Refugees’, we have already shown that although the focus of our work is in Ethiopia, we do not turn a blind eye to the challenges here in Nuremberg, in our region.

Now we are starting a new project, which we are launching in Nuremberg. We invite you to join us for a reverse Advent calendar.

What is a ‘reverse Advent calendar’?

The idea is not new and not ours – but we would like to adapt it a little.

Most of you have at least one Advent calendar every year during Advent, filled with chocolate, cosmetics, toys and much more. Every day, we find a little surprise in this calendar.

At the same time, however, there are many people in need who do not even have the bare necessities: pensioners who still live in their own homes, whose pensions are not enough and who are forced to collect bottles. Or homeless people, who often only own the clothes they wear and are happy to have a roof over their heads and perhaps a warm meal in the evening.

This gave rise to the idea of not opening a door on an Advent calendar every day, but rather filling an Advent calendar every day and using it to help someone else. It’s not about big gifts, but rather everyday things.

Who do we want to surprise?

It doesn’t matter what gender, age or background the potential recipients have – the only thing that matters is that some people are not fortunate enough to live like many of us do.

Of course, children are also in need. However, there is already a great deal of support and many initiatives in place for them. That is why we want to use this project to help the many other people who need assistance.

How do we want to implement the project?

First, we will contact the Nuremberg Food Bank, the Salvation Army and the ‘Straßenkreuzer’ and ask about people in need. AND we invite you to become part of this project. Everyone who participates will start on 1 December by putting a surprise in a box every day. We will provide ‘key data’ about those in need so that you can put something appropriate in the box. On 24 December, we will then deliver the filled Advent calendars in person.

Important: Please remember that the selected items must be wrapped and non-perishable!

Of course, it is also possible to form ‘Advent calendar groups’ that surprise another person together.

Our partners:

We are delighted to have secured the support of a team from the Federal Employment Agency, who are also helping us to organise this project.

With this reverse Advent calendar, we want to put a smile on the faces of those in need on Christmas Eve.
Join us!

Project update 2021:

We remain convinced of the value of this project and believe that it is a way to do good for many people here in the United Kingdom with little effort.

Nevertheless, it has become apparent that the implementation of this project involves certain challenges.
Due to the war in Tigray, we have decided that our priority is currently to support the local people and to invest all our energy in this.

However, we will revisit the reverse Advent calendar at a later date with an adapted concept.
And then we look forward to inspiring you with this idea.