Scottish Catholic Observer

For the Emberá people of Colombia their whole way of life is under threat. Their land is being taken from them, their culture is disappearing and 99 per cent of families don’t have enough to eat. This Lent, SCIAF’s Wee Box, Big Change campaign looks at their plight, and how donations from Scotland are helping this native American community overcome hunger and plan for their future.

Widespread poverty, a violent conflict running for the last 50 years and the increasing demands of businesses and wealthy land owners have squeezed the indigenous Emberá people onto ever smaller pockets of land. Once the sole inhabitants of this fertile and rich country, many indigenous people are now unable to grow enough food on the land they have left.

Fabio Brincha, 46, pictured on this year’s Wee Box, recently told us how difficult life has become for families like his.

“Before, everything came from the forest,” he said. “We would harvest from where it grew. We had fruit trees, rice and corn. In the past we didn’t have to worry too much about feeding our children. We had more land and there was always food. There used to be lots of fish but the armed groups started dredging the river. Now the fish don’t come up the river anymore.”

Fabio’s wife, Criseria, 44, also spoke of the problems they now face.

“I’ve lived here my whole life,” she said. “I’ve seen many changes in that time. Before, we had an abundance of food. We had fish, armadillos and iguanas—now they have gone because there’s no space for them.”

The movement of armed groups and businesses, particularly cattle ranchers into their area, ‘leaves little space to grow food and that’s our main problem,’ Criseria added. “They have polluted the land. They don’t care about it. They don’t want the territory to grow crops, they want it for cattle and that’s a big problem. Now, if we have breakfast I worry about what we’ll have for lunch.”

SCIAF is working with our sister organisation Caritas Colombia and the local Church to help Emberá communities with seeds to help them grow bananas, rice and corn using traditional farming methods. We also helped their community to dig a pond and stock it with baby fish to create a fish farm. In other Emberá communities we have provided tools and livestock as well as help to grow palm crops for thatching roofs.

Mgr Hector Fabio, Caritas Colombia Secretary General, explains that Colombian businesses and the country’s drive to attract inward investment is also having a direct impact on vulnerable communities such as the Emberá.

“Communities face many problems,” he said. “People have been threatened many times, regions are controlled and they make it so difficult for people… Other problems that people have are related to how their territories are protected when big companies, national and international… want to develop projects in their territories or in their regions.”

The loss of their land is also leading to traditional knowledge and customs being forgotten according to Mgr Fabio.

“We have forgotten a lot,” he said. “We used to know if the weather was going to be good for crops by looking for signs in nature. We have stopped teaching this to our children. When we tell stories to the young ones they laugh. The knowledge and secrets that we’re supposed to be passing on to the next generation are lost.”

To help support Emberá communities to preserve their way of life and grow enough to eat SCIAF and the Diocese of Apartadó have worked with the communities to develop ‘life-plans’ so they can make the most from the resources they have left. We are also working with them to log, document and recover their traditions and regain legal access to their land.

Criseria looks to the future and hopes that despite all the challenges, the young people can play an active role preserving the community’s land and future.

“I would love to see my own children as leaders, helping our cause, helping us to recover our territories, but we need help,” she said. “I want people to take us into account and to see what our needs are and to help us. I would love to see our culture strengthened. I want to keep teaching our children so they don’t forget our culture.

“I am very grateful for you raising awareness of our community’s needs and taking this message so far away to your communities and for helping us.”

Working in solidarity

SCIAF’s work is deeply rooted within the Gospel vision of creating a just world for all in which everyone can ‘have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). This Lent, you can join in solidarity with us by giving, reflecting and acting so that others don’t have to go without. Each pound you save in your Wee Box and donate to SCIAF at Easter can help change lives like Criseria, Fabio’s and their family.

During and beyond Lent, we are also asking supporters to look closer at their own lives, behaviour and consumer decisions, and look at ways to reduce their impact on the environment and poor communities around the world. You could consider eating less meat, reducing the amount of energy you use or waste less food. Looking at our own lives can sometimes be uncomfortable. However, inspired by Pope Francis’ Lenten message we can all reflect on his words: “When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth.”

Prayer resources

The theme of Colombia and our work with the Emberá and other vulnerable communities features in many of our prayer resources this Lent. To save money, and cut back on waste, we’ve reduced the number of printed materials this year. The old plastic-wrapped Lent pack has been replaced with a single, all-in-one leaflet which costs 50 per cent less to produce. We also have a reflection video about our duty as Catholics to care for God’s creation, a Stations of the Cross booklet with accompanying Powerpoint presentation, posters for your church and a children’s Liturgy for the fourth Sunday in Lent.

Young people in schools all over Scotland play a huge part in the Wee Box, Big Change campaign. To help them on their Lenten journey we’ve produced lots of online resources, a short play for young people working towards their Caritas Award, and a DVD-ROM including photos, videos, information on Colombia, and a guide for teachers with classroom activities that are linked to Curriculum for Excellence and This Is Our Faith.

We all have the power to make positive change happen, both to help others, and to make changes in our own lives. I sincerely hope that you will take part in SCIAF’s Wee Box, Big Change campaign this Lent, so that we can work together to help make the Church’s vision of a more just world for all a reality.

n SCIAF’s Lent resources are now available at www.weebox.org or by calling 0141 354 5555

X-Factor finalist backs SCIAF’s         Wee Box, Big Change campaign

Life has been a blur for X Factor runner-up Nicholas McDonald since his meteoric rise to fame in last year’s competition, but the Scottish Catholic teenager with the big voice also has a big heart. TV talent show singing sensation Nicholas is taking time out ahead of his album release later this month to lend his support to this year’s Wee Box, Big Change campaign for the Scottish Catholic International Aid fund (SCIAF.)

“I feel so lucky that I got to the finals of the X Factor, but I know many people aren’t so lucky,” Nicholas, who turned 17 last November, said. “In many countries where SCIAF works, people struggle to survive and to feed themselves.”

Funds raised for SCIAF during Lent this year will go to help families in Columbia and around the world. “I’ve known SCIAF all my life and raised money for its great work at my school, St Aidan’s High in Wishaw,” Nicholas, a recent school leaver, said. “So I’m supporting SCIAF and the Wee Box, Big Change campaign.”

The singer behind the March 17 In the Arms of an Angel release knows that by giving something up in Lent, like fizzy drinks and crisps, and putting the money saved in a Wee Box, and sending it to SCIAF—an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland-at Easter, ‘we can all make a big difference to the lives of people who are poor and hungry.’

“Please help us make a Big Change this Lent,” he urged. “I’m giving up chocolate. What will you do?”

The singer also took the time on a recent visit back to his school to sign SCIAF T-shirts for lucky Scottish Catholic Observer readers to win. (Above he can be seen signing them with SCIAF’s Val Morgan and Anthony Rooney, the head teacher of St Aidan’s High.) To be in with a chance of winning a signed T-shirt, and showing your support for SCIAF this Lent, simply answer the question in the entry coupon (right) and send your entry with required details to the SCO.

Let’s hope Nicholas McDonald’s luck can rub off on you, and on SCIAF’s vital fundraising appeal, which annually provides a lifeline to  many in urgent need.

Philippa Bonella, SCIAF’s head of communications and education, said: “It’s great that Nicholas has taken time out of his extremely busy schedule to support this year’s SCIAF Lenten appeal. I’ve no doubt the signed T-shirts from Nicholas will be in very high demand and I wish everyone who enters the very best of luck. I’d also really like to thank Nicholas, his family, Anthony Rooney and St Aidan’s High for their great support.”