Tag: WEE BOX Appeal

Scotland’s Bishops say it’s not too late to get behind SCIAF’s WEE BOX appeal

The Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrew’s Diocese Leo Cushley, together with Scotland’s other Bishops, has given his blessing to SCIAF’s WEE BOX annual fundraising appeal and the issue of access to safe water.

SCIAF – the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund – is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Compelled by Christ’s love, it works with those in the world’s poorest places to end poverty, protect our common home, and help people recover from disaster. SCIAF inspires loving action in the Scottish Catholic community to sustain its work. 

Staff from SCIAF visited the Bishops as they gathered for regular conference at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre. 

Chief executive Lorraine Currie said: “We are so grateful to the Bishops of Scotland and Catholics across the country for their support already this Lent. Our supporters in Scotland are so generous and their support for people living in poverty around the world is really overwhelming.

“This year’s WEE BOX campaign aims to highlight the issue of access to clean water and the transformational work that SCIAF supporters are funding. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water close to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It was amazing to see the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.”

Bishop Brian McGee is SCIAF’s Bishop President. He said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?  We are so lucky here in Scotland and we just take it for granted that the water from our taps will always be there.  

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this. Please give what you can.” 

Please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.  

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox.

To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.  

Bishop Brian scales hill to highlight water poverty

Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.    

Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.

Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water? 

“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.    

“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce.   In Ethiopia far too many women,  girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water. 

“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.  

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”   

Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.        

Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.       

Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives. 

“Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.   

“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”     

This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.   

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox. 

To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.  

The Traitors’ Harry Clark urges Faithfuls to take on SCIAF’s mission

He was the biggest Traitor, but now faithful Harry Clark is laying down a mission of his own – to help fight poverty. 

Harry – the winner of series 2 of the hit BBC show The Traitors – is backing SCIAF’s ‘Big Lent Walk for Water’ which asks people to walk to Walk for Water in return for donations to its WEE BOX Appeal. 

Harry said: “We filmed The Traitors up in Scotland, so I’m proud to support SCIAF’s Big Lent Walk for Water this Lent. Raise money for an incredible cause and explore this beautiful country on foot. Get involved today … and be a Faithful!” 

SCIAF’s Lorraine Currie said: “In the places SCIAF works, like Ethiopia, women and young girls and boys walk for miles every day to collect water for their families. This Lent, you can stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world by walking with them during our Big Lent Walk for Water.  

“Commit to a distance, contact your friends and family for sponsorship, then commence your walking challenge!  

“Money raised will help keep hope flowing in the places SCIAF works, helping provide life essentials like food, shelter, healthcare and clean water.

“Instead of walking miles every single day, women, young girls and boys can have access to safe, clean water sources closer to home, affording them the time to invest in educational opportunities to build a better future.”  

If you want to be a SCIAF faithful, all you need to do is sign up at:

www.sciaf.org.uk/biglent walk  

To find out more, you can call 0141 354 5555. If you’re taking part as a school or parish group, you can email getinvolved@sciaf.org.uk and if you’re walking it yourself you can contact Catriona at cmunro@sciaf.org.uk.