‘Wee box’ collects £3.2 million for aid

Sciaf’s annual “wee box” appeal has raised almost £3.2 million for people devastated by hunger, poverty, war and natural disasters in some of the poorest countries in the world.

The Lent appeal, which asks people to give up a favourite treat such as coffee or chocolate and put the money saved into a Sciaf Wee Box, saw £1,663,918 raised across Scotland. The figure was then doubled through aid match funding from the UK government.

This year’s appeal focused on Cambodia, with funds to help around 19,000 vulnerable people in rural parts of the country to grow more food, improve their access to clean water and protect natural resources such as rivers and forests. The money raised will also help people in Africa and Latin America.

The final figure was announced at Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School in Motherwell.

Sciaf said the school has been supporting the appeal for 26 years.

International development minister Lord Bates said: “Sciaf’s Wee Box appeal will make a positive change to people’s lives.”