10 ideas to change your world this christmas

Here below, are 10 amazing ideas to help you change your world in 2009
Stop and think about you and your friends, just as Bob Geldof did all those years ago. What talents or resources have you got, that could be used to change the world and not just make it nice for yourself?

1) Footy Time: Choose a world issue close to your heart and arrange a charity football match between your teachers and your mates, or even your church versus the local town council. Allow yourself to dream up some crazy combinations and then have the courage to ask. After all, what can they do? They can only say no! Sell tickets or levy an entrance fee per team and then donate the proceeds to your chosen charity.

2) The 'I Don't Want This' Collection: Arrange a project to collect things people no longer need but can be used elsewhere in the world.
a. Tools for Africa
b. Bikes

3) Monthly Challenge: Write out each month of 2009 and set yourself a challenge for you to do each month – February invite a friend to your youth group, October (your birthday month) give away 10% of any money I get given by friends and family.

4) 365 Act: Check out 365 Act – which is simply all about 365 ways to change the world. See what you think of their ideas and even try some of them... 365act.com

5) 'Going Fairtrade': Commit yourself to buying only Fairtrade products for two weeks. Be strict on yourself but totally gracious to others. (This isn't an excuse for getting pious and looking down on others' buying habits) You may be surprised what you can get, as more and more retailers are offering a growing selection of products that are Fairtrade; from tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate, all the way up to pairs of jeans. You could even try not telling anyone what you are doing and see if anyone asks. Make sure you think through your response in advance though, and the reason behind what you're doing.

6) Sponsor a Child: Child Sponsorship is such an amazing thing to do. It changes one child's life forever. Great organisations such as CompassionUK.org offer ways of sponsoring a child which cost less than 60p a day. The great thing is, YOU get to keep in direct touch with your child through Compassion; writing Christmas and birthday letters and also having the chance to maybe visit your child one day. Your money goes towards helping give these children a roof over their heads and the chance to become educated in school. It's a hand up out of the poverty trap!

7) Time To Change Banks? Check who you bank with. Are they ethical about how they invest your money? Banks such as The Cooperative are strict about how they ethically invest your money.

8) Simple Politeness: Choose a week, and set yourself the task of smiling and saying a cheery, friendly, warm 'Good Morning' to whoever you meet.

9) Giving Up To Save Up: Give up something that costs you money for a month or during Lent (the days leading up to Easter). Add up all you have saved and decide who, what, where you are going to give it to.

10) Moooooo! Give a Cow – Google that phrase and see what comes up. Instead of a DVD or a box of chocolates, give something different to someone this Christmas or in the New Year. Organisations such as Christian Aid are a good place to start!

Even if you decide to just take one of the above ideas and run with it, you're making a great decision to start changing your world. God bless you this Christmas and into 2009.

And finally, if you're a music buff and are wondering who exactly took part in all those Band Aid's over the years, then simply click here: