"I want people to think about the young person behind the appeal": Young Ambassador Chan reflects on Christmas
In this blog, Action for Children's Young Ambassador Chan shares her Christmas memories and reflects on why donations makes a difference to vulnerable families.
When I was younger, Christmas always started on the 24 December.
I’d open the last window of my advent calendar and leave Santa a handwritten letter and a snack - not forgetting carrots for his reindeer too!
On Christmas morning, I’d wake up at the crack of dawn and dive into my stocking.
During the day, I went to church, watched tv and spoke to my nan and grandad.
My siblings, nieces and nephews would either come to our house, or we’d go to theirs, and that’s when we’d open presents together.
While the food was cooking, we’d play board games and end the day with our stomachs full and watching Christmas films.
Presents are exciting, but being surrounded by family and creating fond memories matters so much more.
There’s a lot of focus on family and being together during Christmas, which is special.
This can bring up memories, questions about your own story or thoughts about the family you're not with, or never met.
You can love being with the family you've grown up with and enjoy Christmas together, while also thinking about the family you don't know or wondering how they.
These feelings can exist together. It doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or unhappy with your family.
For young people in care or those facing challenges at home, Christmas can also bring uncertainty, loneliness or pressure to pretend everything is fine.
I wish adults understood that being care experienced, including being adopted, can have a lifelong impact for some people.
These complicated feelings don't go away as you get older.
What does help, is being listened to, having space to talk if you want to, and not feeling pressured to be happy because it’s Christmas.
Your support could provide the essentials, and keep a family's home warm.
To me, family means people who care about me, listen to me and want me to do well. It means feeling that I belong and that my views matter.
I feel this with my family, and I also feel a sense of belonging at Action for Children.
As a Young Ambassador, I can be myself and feel connected to the people who want to make life better for me as well as the other children and young people.
Action for Children have helped me build the confidence to share my views and experiences.
Having adults listen to me and act on what they've heard has shown me that my voice can make a difference.
I’m autistic and have ADHD, and I like to use my voice to help other young people be heard too.
I can't speak for everyone, but I can share my own experiences and encourage adults to listen to other young people and understand their needs and priorities.
If someone is thinking about supporting Action for Children's Secret Santa appeal, I'd share the words from the spoken word piece I wrote and performed at their Starry Night Gala event:
I want people to think about the child or young person behind the appeal.
A donation could help take some pressure off a family and help a child feel included at Christmas.
Something that seems small to one person can make a real difference to someone else.
Because every child deserves to feel that they matter and that someone cares about them.
