Schools, parishes and individual supporters throughout Scotland raised a fantastic £1,663,918
An annual appeal by a Scottish charity has raised £3,198,056 for its life changing work.
Cash raised by Sciaf’s Wee Box Big Change appeal will help people devastated by hunger, poverty, war and natural disasters in some of the poorest countries in the world.
The appeal benefitted hugely from UK Aid Match funding from the UK government, which meant that every pound donated was doubled.
Schools, parishes and individual supporters throughout Scotland raised a fantastic £1,663,918.
Lord Bates of the Department for International Development (DFID) visited Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell, which raised over £1,000 for the appeal by running crazy hair days, pyjama parties and other fundraising activities.
The school has been supporting Sciaf for 26 years and raised £35,500 in total.
During the visit the Minister met Sciaf staff to learn more about the charity’s work with poor families in Cambodia – who had featured in this year’s appeal - and others around the world who received practical help so they can grow more food, earn an income, learn new skills, live in peace, and get emergency aid when disasters strike.
Nick Harvey, Sciaf’s director of fundraising, welcomed the minister and thanked supporters across Scotland for making the appeal a success.
He said: “We’re delighted Lord Bates joined us to help announce the fantastic total raised by our appeal, hear more about our life-changing work around the world and the tremendous support from the staff and pupils at Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School and others.
“I’d like to thank everyone, including those in schools and parishes throughout Scotland, for taking part in the appeal and being so generous.
“The money raised will go a long way, and make a huge difference to the lives of many thousands of people who struggle every day due to poverty, conflict or natural disasters. This money will provide practical help so they can work their way out of poverty, support themselves and have a brighter future.”
Lord Bates said: “Sciaf's Wee Box appeal will make a positive change to people’s lives by protecting the rights of fishermen and farmers in Cambodia and giving them the tools they need to boost their incomes and support their families. It has been great to visit Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School today to hear about their fundraising efforts and see the enthusiasm the pupils have to make a difference.
“Every donation made by the public across Scotland has been matched pound for pound by the UK government, meaning we have doubled the difference the public have made to those in need.”
This year’s Wee Box appeal told the story of Sciaf’s work supporting poor Cambodian families to provide for themselves. The money from DFID will help 19,000 indigenous and vulnerable people in rural Cambodia to increase their income, grow more food, improve their access to clean water, protect their natural resources such as rivers and forests and be better able to deal with disasters if they arise.
The money given by supporters will help people in Africa, Asia, Latin America whose lives have been devastated by hunger, poverty, war and natural disasters.
Last year, Sciaf provided long term practical support and emergency aid to over 207,000 people in 27 countries including Syria, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Colombia.
