As many of us look forward to our familiar festive traditions this Christmas – maybe for the first time since 2019 – Christian Aid is urging supporters to remember families around the world who share those traditions. In particular, the Christmas meal is a tradition shared with families in Malawi, the focus of Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal.

Malawi is a country where unpredictable weather patterns driven by the climate crisis has left food crops shrivelled by drought or drowned by floods and storms. Resilience building is at the forefront of Christian Aid’s work, in Mzimba District, through partners like the Synod of Livingstonia Development Department, through training in farming techniques, creating access to village savings and loans banks and the use of fuel efficient cook stoves.

Fyness Tembo, a mother of five, is one of those who has benefitted from climate smart agriculture training. This has been transformational for her family and their ability to eat well and regularly. It also means she can buy clothes for her children, something she’s not always been able to do. She’s put into action her new skills by planting different vegetables in her garden, along with fruit trees.

For Fyness, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. And it’s a time of eating, dancing and the children playing lots of football. “We celebrate by eating the food we have prepared. We cook chicken and rice. I feel very happy and satisfied.”

A Christian Aid spokesperson said: “Whatever Christmas traditions you are looking forward to the most please consider a donation to Christian Aid this Christmas and share the greatest tradition of all – love. Without gifts of love, it wouldn’t be Christmas. Resources, prayers and ways to give can be found at caid.org. uk/ScotlandChristmas”