Wish trees brighten less fortunate children’s Christmas

AMMAN — “Wish trees” have been flourishing across Amman as an early celebration of the annual Christmas festivities, in the third edition of ATICO Fakhreldin’s winter solidarity campaign.

Following the success witnessed by the initiative in the previous years, the group renewed its partnership with the SOS Children’s Villages, through which they help less fortunate children and adolescents “make their dreams come true”.

Installed at various locations across Amman, the trees are filled with letters handwritten by young boys and girls from the SOS Children’s Villages from Amman, Irbid and Aqaba, with their hopes and wishes for Christmas, according to Hala Awadallah, fund development and communications coordinator at SOS Villages.

Located at Al Qasr Metropole Hotel, Fakhreldin, Ren Chai and Yoshi, the campaign added one more “Wish tree” this year at Wild Jordan Centre in Jabal Amman.

Customers who come across the trees can pick an envelope and donate a certain amount of money to help grant the wish of the child and “make a dream come true”, Awadallah told The Jordan Times. 

“The welfare and happiness of our children is enhanced by all these wonderful partnerships that are very important to us. Their position support gives pleasure to the SOS community,” said Reem Habayeb, SOS Jordan’s chairperson.

Following the campaign, ATICO will organise a day of celebrations, during which a dressed up Santa will deliver the gifts to the children in the villages.

“These wish trees help put a smile on the children’s faces and make their dreams come true thanks to the generous and charitable offerings from our guests,” an ATICO statement said.

“It is of utmost importance that our children are integrated within the community in a proactive way. Initiatives such as this one contribute to reinforcing the sense of belonging to the community and the country for these children,” Habayeb stressed.

SOS Children’s Villages Jordan was first launched in Amman in 1987 and later expanded to the governorates of Irbid and Aqaba. 

A local social development organisation, SOS operates on a family-based model through the support of village mothers, aunts, brothers and sisters who have regular family gatherings, according to its website.