This year, the Catholic Church in Scotland is firmly dedicating its Lenten campaign to the urgent need for clean water in the Horn of Africa, specifically Ethiopia.
The ongoing droughts and severe shortages are depriving both people and animals of the essential resources necessary for a meaningful life, which the Church is taking concrete action to address.
This disclosure was made by Bishop Brian McGee, President of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), who “cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.”
The Bishop assembles the sink parts. Credit: Bishop’s Conference of Scotland
The tall and elegant Bishop, who staged the campaign by climbing a hill to dramatise brushing the teeth, “to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water,” rhetorically asked, “What can be more unjust than not being able to access clean, safe water?”
He suggested that in Scotland, people are fortunate that they don’t have to “climb a hill to brush [their] teeth in the morning,” to drive the point about the campaign.
“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne, and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water,” he confessed.
“I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives,” he stressed.
The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles Diocese lamented about the poverty in the East African nation, calling for urgent support.
“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face,” the SCIAF president emphasised.
Established in 1965, SCIAF works across eight countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, assisting vulnerable people.
Bishop McGee sets up the big sink. Credit: Bishop’s Conference of Scotland
Although SCIAF partners with various organisations to respond to humanitarian disasters, throughout Lent, it creates awareness and raises money to support just causes in a designated country of need each year.
McGee, 60, insisted that “Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia, far too many women, girls, and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and, in some places, taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.
“This year, our WEE BOX Appeal focuses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.”
He expressed appreciation to the people of Scotland for their generosity, adding that Lent affords all an opportunity to be more generous.
“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.
SCIAF WEE BOX would provide clean water to vulnerable communities in Ethiopia. Credit: Bishop’s Conference of Scotland
“Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year, generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine, or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.
“Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict, and the climate emergency.”
While urging all to utilise the “WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE” to show “young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish,” the Prelate encouraged all to donate as little as £10, text SCIAF to 70580, or visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox on how to donate.
