The streets are festively illuminated, there's a smell of gingerbread and mulled wine, and the tills of retail comerciantes are buzzing. This can only mean one thing: Christmas is just around the corner. Not only in the shops, but also online, it's peak season and people are buying gifts by the bagful that will soon find their place under the Christmas tree. Companies also give away chocolate and other creative gifts to shareholders, board members, and employees.

But isn't there a more sensible alternative? In line with 'Donating instead of Giving', we present six charitable organisations with great causes that can collect donations easily and conveniently with Payrexx's online donation tool.

The Sikypark – the Swiss Animal Rescue Park

The Swiss Animal Rescue Park in Crémines rescues native and exotic animals in need and gives them a home. The park is home to 550 animals from 74 species, including big cats, parrots, wolves, and water buffaloes. Over 90% of the animals in Sikypark come from animal rescues, confiscations, and surrenders, which sets the zoo apart from others.

To provide the animals with a dignified final phase of life and the appropriate living conditions, Sikypark relies on support through donations, animal sponsorships, or visits to the park. There, visitors can get to know the animals with sometimes moving pasts up close and learn more about their stories. The animals play an important role in education and awareness, serving as ambassadors for their species and fellow sufferers.

Here you can support the Sikypark with your donation: Donate

The Sikypark collects donations for animals in need.

NetzCourage – against digital violence

NetzCourage is a donation-funded advisory service that offers free legal and psychosocial advice and support to those affected by digital violence. The NetzCourage team fights for respectful interaction in the digital space by raising awareness and supporting hundreds of affected individuals each year with the #NetzAmbulance project – from managing social media profiles to mediation or court proceedings.

Those affected by digital violence receive round-the-clock free support, regardless of their social status, beliefs, or stories they carry. The organisation also focuses on prevention, organising awareness workshops in schools, organisations, and companies.

Here you can find the online donation form of NetzCourage: Donate

Lebenshof TierMensch

The Lebenshof TierMensch offers animals a habitat designed to meet their needs. Among the farm animals are those no one wanted anymore, those neglected or those that would have been slaughtered. Many come from factory farming or were used for human benefit. At Lebenshof TierMensch, they no longer have to experience this, but are respected and appreciated as individuals.

Supporters can assist the association with donations of food, care vouchers, or animal sponsorships. Especially in winter, large amounts of straw are needed to make all the resting areas warm and cosy, and large amounts of hay are needed because there isn't enough grass in the pastures and the animals need to be supplemented with hay.

On the website, you can find all donation options: Donate

At Lebenshof TierMensch, animals that no one wanted anymore find a home.

there for you – the digital donation platform for climate, animals and people

there for you is a digital donation platform committed to creating a more sustainable, fairer, and better world, supporting projects and organisations with similar goals. The platform features projects in the areas of climate protection, animal welfare, child aid, and humanitarian causes, from which donors can freely choose. there for you aims to make engagement as easy as possible for supporters.

During the Christmas season, there for you launches its Christmas campaign for the second time. Unique items can be auctioned and additional items can be purchased at a fixed price. This year, items include racing skis from Marco Odermatt or a signed book by Martin Suter for auction. The proceeds go to the currently 30 active projects on the donation platform.

The donation projects and the Christmas campaign can be found here: Donate

There are currently 30 different donation projects available on the donation platform there for you.

The Animal Protection Foundation TBB

The Animal Protection Foundation TBB Switzerland aims to preserve and promote the interests of animals and animal welfare. The main task is to protect all animals from suffering, inadequate housing and abuse. The foundation pursues various national and regional animal welfare and awareness projects with a focus on child and youth animal welfare. It also operates a service point for lost and found animals and collaborates with the Swiss Animal Reporting Centre STMZ. Each year up to 250 reports on inadequate housing conditions are received by the Animal Protection Advisory Centre, all of which follow-up on.

In the animal shelter on the Birs, abandoned, injured, neglected and confiscated animals are cared for and looked after 365 days a year. To ensure diverse animal welfare work, the foundation relies on donations, sponsorships, and animal sponsorships, which also make meaningful Christmas gifts for humans and animals.

Here you can find the donation form: Donate

The Animal Protection Foundation TBB advocates for the protection of animals from inadequate housing and abuse.

EMAUA – Reforestation in Kenya

EMAUA is a Swiss-Kenyan project aimed at planting one million native trees annually in the tropics by 2025. The goal is to create a scalable model for reforestation with native and diverse trees in inhabited areas of the tropics, while improving the living standards of local communities.

The mature plants are distributed free of charge to rural communities, and farmers receive training on the importance of native trees. Incentives are also created to promote the best survival rates of the trees, such as constructing improved stoves that reduce families' firewood consumption by 66%. From December to January, EMAUA runs a crowdfunding campaign to gather new funds to support the project.

More about the digital donation campaign here: Donate

EMAUA plants native and diverse trees in Kenya.

Do you wish to start your own donation project? With Payrexx's practical and intuitive donation form, you can receive your first donations within minutes.