worldwide surprise - Step by Step

1. Starting in autumn, Fair Trade Shops provide fabric hand puppets, the so-called "Wichtel" puppets for 2.50 euros each. These "Wichtel" puppets can be decorated individually with colour, wool or buttons. “Wichtel” puppets can also be ordered from the gepa Fair trading house via a Fair Trade Shops. If you take your childrens group or class along to a Fair Trade shop, they’ll will get to know the dynamics of fair trade. Besides, they can exchange fair trade products in addition to “Wichtel” puppets.

2. Please arrange for a "Wichtel" session for a group during religious education, Sunday school or with friends. You can learn more about this in the worldwide surprise Workbook, which you can order at worldwide surprise or on the Internet at www.worldwide-surprise.org under material. The workbook contains stories about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.

3. The "Wichtel" session: during this session children can decorate the hand puppets, draw pictures or you can say something about other cultures or about fair trade. The children can give each other the hand-made puppets they have decorated or eventually other fair trade products as presents. The children can decorate more "Wichtel" puppets for a group abroad.

4. During the "Wichtel" session, you can take photos of the "Wichtel" puppets and send them to worldwide surprise. The puppets will then take part in the competition for the most beautiful "Wichtel".

5. Then you can pack a parcel containing all the "Wichtel" puppets for your partner group abroad. Please don't send any food, electrical items, clothes or toys. Only send photos, letters, hand-made pieces and "Wichtel" puppets. worldwide surprise is intended to promote intercultural learning and international exchange of joy. Therefore we do not intend to send consumer goods to our partners.

6. Very important! Please enclose a letter explaining the campaign to your partner group and describing something about your group. You can obtain a sample letter and informationa in English from worldwide surprise or you can download it here. In case your church organisation or local parish, your school or association does not have a partnership, worldwide surprise will be glad to arrange one for you. Just give us a call !

7. Let's wait and see whether and how your partner group responds. You can repeat this campaign every year with new elements to build up children partnerships.