One Laptop per Child’s “Give One, Get One” program was extended through December 31, the non-profit organization announced on Thursday. Under this program people have the chance to buy two XO laptops for $399, out of which one goes to a child in a developing country such as Mongolia, Cambodia or Afghanistan.

OLPC’s initiative was launched on November 12 and was scheduled to end on November 26. But according to Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of the One Laptop per Child’s initiative, many people and institutions started to become interested in the program and asked for more time to organize groups, as the XO laptops can be shipped even for $199 each two-laptop packet if bought in large quantities of 10,000, for example.

“In the past 10 days, we’ve experienced an outpouring of support from the public that is truly gratifying and encouraging. Because so many people have asked for more time to participate either individually or in order to organize local and national groups to which they belong, we have decided to extend Give One Get One through the end of this year. During this extended period we will solicit input and transition to a program of giving only at the beginning of 2008. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to act upon the giving spirit of the holiday season,” Nicholas Negroponte said.

With Christmas coming in less than a month, OLPC would have been blind not to take advantage of this opportunity. People try to be nicer and to offer gifts, and this makes a philanthropic program to be very much in fashion during this period.

“Give One, Get One’s” success became questionable when OLPC announced that the XO laptop would sell for $188 and not for $100, as previously announced. But until now donations to the program have reached an average of $2 million a day. With one more month left to go, the program is likely to bring happiness to up to 490,000 poor children by the end of 2007.