3 March 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon helped launch this year’s WEE BOX campaign at the Scottish Parliament, encouraging people in Scotland to raise funds for SCIAF’s global poverty appeal.

SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, is the official aid and international development charity of the Catholic Church in Scotland, working in 16 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

It helps some of the poorest people in the world, regardless of religion, to work their way out of poverty.

FM @NicolaSturgeon helping launch the @sciaf #WEEBOX appeal. pic.twitter.com/1LuU90DcnC

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) March 3, 2016

This year’s appeal tells the story of how SCIAF is helping poor cattle herders in Ethiopia to cope with drought and climate change, and Tsegaye Challa and Huka Garsa from Ethiopia were there to meet the First Minister and the leaders of Scotland’s political parties.

The First Minister said:

“SCIAF had a very humble beginning back in 1965 but has now grown to be a Scottish charity that we should all be extremely proud of. They have helped millions of people in the most difficult circumstances to recover from natural disasters and war, and to work their way out of poverty.

“By supporting the WEE BOX campaign we are standing together to promote a fairer and better world through the provision of practical help like seeds and farm tools so that people can grow food and support themselves into a better future.”