Oxfam Unwrapped's green gifts and World AIDS Day

Today's World AIDS Day, and in commemoration, I thought I'd combine my green holiday shopping with social activism -- and send condoms to people who need but can't afford or know about them. Unfortunately I need to live in the UK to do so.

Let me explain: Oxfam, a nonprofit that works to combat poverty and suffering around the world, has an "Oxfam Unwrapped" shopping section where you can purchase "unexpected gifts that do good." You can, for example, purchase "plant 50 trees" for $30, dedicating that gift to a loved one who'll get a little gift card about your nontraditional holiday present.

So appropriately for World AIDS Day, The UK branch of Oxfam is offering a range of sexual health gifts -- including a male and female condom pack, with educational materials, to help stop the spread of HIV. (via New Consumer). "Rubberly jubberly," says the playful description.

What does the US version say? Um, nothing. Oxfam America isn't offering condom education kits as a gift option.

Why not, I asked Jeff, a spokesperson for Oxfam America. He said Oxfam America's "pretty conservative, based on their constituency." The Oxfam brand just isn't as solidified in the US as it is in the UK, so the Oxfam America site sticks very close to its "core branding." So what about condoms and sexual health ed? "I don't believe they're going to be stressing that aspect," says Jeff.

Condom gift packs, apparently, are in some ways a tough sell in the US. It's possible, I suppose, that some would cut their support of Oxfam for promoting something other than an abstinence-only stance.

That said, brand building for a nonprofit seems terribly unfun. Case in point -- Compare this UK logo:

To this US logo:

The Uk version's all about "funusual"-ness; the US one's much more sedate -- and vaguely reminiscent of -- Joe Camel?

Eh. Oxfam America does offer one World AIDS Day-appropriate gift: A donation to beaded jewelry artisans, which "allows HIV-affected women in Africa to support their families." And I think I can still purchase stuff from the Oxfam UK site, thanks to the universality of Mastercard, so maybe I'll end up sending the kit anyway. The question now is who to dedicate it to --

Images courtesy of Oxfam

Comments

[James]

Heifer International has a very similar program.

http://www.heifer.org

No crowds, no driving, no shopping, no maxing out you credit card. Just go online, donate what you can, Heifer provides trees, crops, and farm animals, to impovershed people around the world, and send you cards to send to friends and family informing them that you have made a donation in their name.

I've never heard any complaints.

[James]

This is on tonight.It explains the whole Heifer program.

Heifer

Monday, December 3, 10:00pm
CHANNEL 58 (KLCS)

Relating to third-world peoples in the post-Sept. 11 environment is examined via Heifer Project International's work in third-world countries. Poor villagers are supplied with animals and farm supplies.