Generation Y are often branded as the apathetic, however, Oxfam Australia says it has seen the number of young people buying charitable gifts double since it started its Oxfam Unwrapped program in 2005. 

The percentage of 15 to 29 year olds purchasing charitable gifts has risen steadily from eight per cent in the first year to 16 per cent in 2009 based on purchases to date.

Over the same period, the popularity of the gifts among 30 to 44 year olds, generally considered to be Generation X, and the 45 to 59 year-old ‘Baby Boomer’ Generation has remained relatively steady.

Analysis of last year’s sales also reveals that quirkier gifts like cattle manure – which helps people in Sri Lanka who use it as a cheap fertiliser to increase their crops – are most popular with the 15 to 29 age group.

The top-seller across all age groups last year was the chicken, which this year will support Oxfam’s work with women in Laos to help them learn how to rear poultry to earn a living.

Oxfam Unwrapped allows people to purchase items like goats, cooking sets and cattle manure to help the aid agency provide similar items to poor communities, while receiving a card to show friends how they are helping.

Oxfam Australia fundraising manager Leigh Stewart said the majority of Unwrapped purchases were made in the lead up to the Christmas period.