Help make a big change by joining Wee Box appeal

Raise cash to aid the poor

People across West Lothian are being urged to join SCIAF’s Wee Box, Big Change Lent appeal to raise money for some of the poorest people in the world.

In 2017, the appeal raised over £ 1 million for SCIAF’s life-changing work, helping people in 15 of the world’s poorest countries.

And the people of West Lothian generously gave over £21,000 last year, including £ 9,819 from Livingston and £5,769 from Bathgate.

This year the UK government has committed to matching – pound-for-pound – all donations given to the appeal before May 8, meaning people’s donations will go twice as far.

This extra money will give thousands of people in developing countries the practical help they need to overcome poverty, hunger, war, disease and natural disasters, so they can survive and thrive in the future.

Each year people across Scotland give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps for Lent, put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX, and then donate it at Easter to help the charity’s life-changing work.

SCIAF’s director, Alistair Dutton, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the people of West Lothian for supporting us over the years.

“Everything given to SCIAF’s WEE BOX Lent appeal means poor families can get the help they need, like good seeds, farming tools, training and small loans, so they can grow food, earn an income and have a better future.

“Having the UK Aid Match again this year is a fantastic bonus too. It means everything you give to our WEE BOX appeal will be doubled by the UK government.

“I urge everyone to take advantage of this amazing offer and make sure your money goes twice as far.”

The 2018 appeal was launched on Ash Wednesday (February 14) and tells the story of SCIAF’s life-changing work with poor families affected by illegal fishing and poverty in one of the poorest provinces of rural Cambodia, Stung Treng.

A Cambodian family headed by Phong and Toma Lang and their five children, feature on this year’s Wee Box.

The Langs depend on fishing and farming to survive but they were badly affected by criminal gangs who used dynamite and electrocution to harvest huge numbers of fish in their local river.

At the time, fish stocks dropped by a staggering 50 per cent leaving the family struggling to feed themselves.

Working closely with its local Cambodian partner, Development and Partnership in Action (DPA), SCIAF helped the Lang family and their neighbours to form a community fishing association, work closely with the police and local authorities, and set up regular patrols of the river to prevent illegal fishing so that fish stocks could return to levels which can support local families and future generations.

The Langs also received training in how to increase their rice harvests so that they could support themselves all year round.

Money raised from the appeal will help SCIAF’s work with poor communities around the world so that they can grow more food and support themselves, overcome injustice and conflict, get an education and learn new skills, as well as get help when disasters strike.

To get your SCIAF Wee Box, make a donation or find out more, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk or call 0141 354 5555.