Aysel Hajiyeva, now 35, is hoping to reconnect with Daniel Allen, a boy from Seaforth who wrote to her as part of the Operation Christmas Child scheme around 2000-2001. The letter, which she received as a 10-year-old at a boarding school for children deprived of parental care in Azerbaijan, was rediscovered by her daughter Fatima, aged 10, among old belongings.
A childhood memory resurfaced
Aysel, who lives in Quba, Azerbaijan, said receiving the box made her feel remembered and loved by someone she had never met. She told the ECHO: “It was a magical feeling; touching those items and smelling them made me feel as if I was travelling to that distant country myself.”
“Knowing that a child thousands of miles away sat down, prepared that gift, and wrote a letter specifically for me created a deep, personal connection that I will never forget.”
The letter from Daniel
The letter from Daniel read: “Hello, my name is Daniel Allen. I am nine years old. I’ve just had my birthday on the 27th October.”
“I live with my mum next door to my Grandma. I have a little cousin called Toni. She is only four years old, and she has just started school.”
“I am in the Cubs; when I get old enough, I will go into the Scouts. Do you have Cubs and Scouts in your country?”
“We all hope you like the things that we have put in your box, and we all wish you a very happy Christmas, and we hope you get other presents as well as this box. Happy Christmas, love, from Daniel and Toni.”
Kindness knows no borders
At the time, Aysel said the UK and Liverpool felt like distant places that she knew little about beyond maps and school textbooks, but Daniel’s letter made that faraway world feel much closer.
She said: “The gift box and the letter brought so much happiness, not just to me, but to all the other children around me as well.”
“It made an unforgettable impact on me. It gave us a feeling of warmth, hope, and the beautiful realisation that kindness knows no borders.”
Aysel was living at the boarding school in the Zardabi settlement in Quba, where everyday life revolved around studying, sharing meals, playing together, and supporting one another. Despite the challenges the children faced, she remembers the school as a place of warmth, friendship, and security, and the arrival of the gift boxes was one of the highlights of the year.
Around New Year’s Eve, the children would gather in the main hall, where parcels marked for different age groups were distributed. Aysel said: “I remember the excitement vividly. We were all so eager and happy when the gifts arrived. Holding that box felt like holding a precious treasure from a world we had only imagined.”
“As soon as we received our boxes, we would open them with so much joy, show everything inside to our friends, and sometimes even swap toys with each other to make sure everyone got something they loved.”
“Opening the box was pure magic, but finding a handwritten letter inside made it truly unforgettable.”
“Realising that a child in Liverpool had personally written those words for me created a deep, heart-warming connection that transcended geography.”
A daughter's discovery
Years passed, and the gift box became a treasured memory from a time when a small gesture from a stranger had made her feel that somebody far away was thinking of her. Then, unexpectedly, the letter resurfaced.
Aysel said: “Years later, my daughter was looking through some old things at home and unexpectedly found the letter.”
“When she showed it to me and said she wanted to write back to this address, it instantly brought back a rush of childhood memories. It was an incredibly emotional moment.”
“Holding a piece of my childhood after nearly 25 years filled my heart with warmth and nostalgia.”
“Seeing that my daughter felt the same curiosity and desire to connect made it even more special.”
Now Aysel is hoping to track Daniel down. Following the rediscovery, Aysel has reached out to local Facebook groups to try to find Daniel or his family and reconnect with him.
She said: “Receiving those gift boxes from so far away meant the world to us. It made us feel remembered, valued, and loved by people who didn't even know us. For all the children, it wasn't just about the gifts inside; it brought a sense of wonder, hope, and pure joy into our lives.”
“I haven’t managed to reconnect yet, but I hope to hear from Daniel soon.”
