If a country cannot educate or medicate its people, it doesn’t have much chance of putting an end to poverty. Whilst it is important for countries to receive aid for the building of these facilities, there is another short-term solution.

Few recognise how important play can be – particularly a team sport such as football. This has all changed since the major charities set up charity gift schemes.

Diseases such as malaria, polio and measles, which would be quickly and effectively treated in developed countries, often become fatal.

Poor countries rarely have adequate sewage systems. In Nicaragua for example 80% of people live on less than £1.10 each day, and unsurprisingly, cholera and malaria are rife. Worst affected are the densely populated shanty towns, where sewage often runs unprotected at the side of streets.

There has never been a wider range of choices when it comes to buying charity gifts, Buying charity gifts has become a popular way of supporting charities and those affected by poverty, injustice and disease. Established charities like Christian Aid, Oxfam, Practical Action, CAFOD, Save the Children, World Vision and Action Aid have all had their own charity gifts schemes, where you can buy a charity gift, for some years now. But now there is more choice than ever.

If you want to give a life-saving gift, then what about a disaster emergency kit from aid agency CAFOD?

Sri Lanka has long been a divided and troubled country, with tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists first erupting into war in 1983. Many thousands of people have lost their lives in the interminable ethnic conflict that has ensued.

This Easter, as millions of children munch their way through chocolate eggs, it is important to remember that the industry that produces the cocoa survives on a massive child trafficking network, says charity World Vision.

World Vision, one of the world's leading relief and development agencies, has supplied 100 desks to the Kintampo South District Directorate Education Service in Ghana.

Easter is fast approaching and the RSPB have come with a great idea for an alternative Easter gift.

When you purchase RSPB membership online between 6 April and 14 May 2009, your friend, family member or loved one will not only receive all the standard benefits of membership, but will also be entered into a free prize draw.

An alliance of conservation groups that includes WWF-Malaysia is opposing plans by the Malaysian government to build a new tiger park. The creation of the park is problematic and would require the moving of tigers from their natural habitat. WWF-Malaysia argues that this will compromise the Malaysian governments commitment to double tiger numbers by 2020. Find out more about WWF's tiger adoption here.

WWF have a released a short film on YouTube of a couple of Pandas getting cuddly, to publicise their upcoming Earth Hour campaign off the back of their programme of panda sponsorship

An historic agreement signed in 1973 which obliges artic states to protect their polar bear populations, is forcing countries to take action against climate change to prevent further degradation of polar bear habitats.

When people sponsor a child through World Vision, or give charity gifts through their virtual gift scheme, they are helping to develop the sustainability of a whole community, leading to a safe and healthy environment for children and adults alike.

Every year around April 25, millions of penguins will begin their annual northward migration away from the tenebrous Antarctic winter in search of better-illuminated icebergs. Unlike most migrating bird species, the average penguin will choose not to fly, but rather waddle and swim its way to its new habitat.