Scottish Catholic Observer

The focus of this year’s campaign is on the emergency aid and long term development work that the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund is providing in Haiti, work which Cardinal O’Brien witnessed firsthand when he visited the island in January.

“I saw for myself the hard work being done by SCIAF and its partners to help thousands of people whose lives have been turned upside down by last year’s devastating earthquake,” the cardinal said. “I met the Felix family, featured on this year’s Wee Box, and have heard first-hand about the huge difference SCIAF’s support has made to their lives.”

International singing star Susan Boyle is to launch SCIAF’s 2011 Wee Box, Big Change appeal in Glasgow on Ash Wednesday to help desperately poor people in developing countries by encouraging charitable donations through Lent. Ms Boyle, who wowed the congregation at Bellahouston Park last September ahead of the Papal Mass, is the highest selling British artist overseas for the second year in a row.

SCIAF’s Lent campaign is Scotland’s largest annual international development fundraising campaign and runs from March 9 to April 21 this year. It provides long term practical help to desperately poor people in developing countries.

The Wee Box, Big Change campaign raised £889,875 in 2010 and benefited from the support of a wide range of famous Scots including Michelle Mone, Ally McCoist, and The Proclaimers. More famous faces are putting their weight behind the campaign this year and their support will be announced at the launch event. SCIAF is an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

“Our SCIAF Wee Boxes help us to make big changes to the lives of people living in extreme poverty across the world too,” Cardinal O’Brien said. “Helping people so that they can help themselves is the key to SCIAF’s work.”

— To get a free Wee Box contact SCIAF on 0141 354 5555 or e-mail [email protected]. Special prayer resources and posters for your school or parish are also available.

Pic: Paul McSherry