Kind-hearted West Lothian residents comes to SCIAF’s aid

Sep 24 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

AN international aid charity has thanked West Lothian people for their support during its recent fundraising campaign.

Since January, supporters in the county have donated £36,400 towards SCIAF’s life-saving work in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In Livingston, people gave over £17,600 since January, while in Bathgate, supporters donated over £12,900 and in Linlithgow, people have raised over £4200.

Money raised will be used to give poor communities seeds, tools and agricultural training so that they can grow enough food, and teach people new skills so that they can earn a living.

It will also help to provide medical treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS, care for widows and orphans and enable communities to rebuild their lives following war and natural disasters.

SCIAF works through local partners to help people in over 20 of the world’s poorest countries, including India, Haiti and Ethiopia, provide for themselves and their families.Š

When disaster strikes SCIAF supplies emergency aid Šincluding food, clean water, medicines and shelter and long term support to help communities rebuild and recover.

The charity used money raised in Scotland to support the rescue operation following Cyclone Nargis in Burma and is currently helping families in the Democratic Republic of Congo who were forced to flee their homes to escape fighting.

Here in Scotland, SCIAF works with schools, parishes and communities to campaign on the root causes of poverty and injustice, such as climate change, debt and unfair trade rules, in order to create a fairer world for everyone.

SCIAF’s chief executive, Paul Chitnis said: “I would like to thank everyone in West Lothian for their valuable support.

“This money will help us to save lives and bring fresh hope to some of the poorest and most troubled parts of the world.

“The money we receive from people here in Scotland enables SCIAF to give poor communities around the world the tools, training and practical support they need to lift themselves out of poverty and build a brighter future.”

To find out more about SCIAF’s work, visit www.sciaf.org.uk or call 0141 354 5555.