Bringing Parishes Closer to Communities Across the Globe

A scheme to build stronger links between parishes and groups in Scotland and communities affected by poverty and injustice around the world has been launched by Scotland’s leading international aid organisation.

SCIAF’s Partners For Justice is an exciting new initiative which offers parishes and local groups a chance to forge closer links with SCIAF and the people they work with in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The scheme will focus on a different SCIAF project or country each year – taking supporters on an insightful journey into the organisation’s work overseas, the struggle to build a just world, and how the Scottish public can make a difference.

SCIAF's Clea Ferguson said:

“Supporters in parishes and groups across Scotland make a vital contribution to SCIAF’s work – fundraising to enable our overseas projects to take place; campaigning to help us tackle the root causes of poverty; and raising awareness about the vital work we do.

“Partners for Justice is an exciting new way for parishes and groups in Scotland to support SCIAF, learn more about the issues affecting communities in developing countries, and what Scottish people can do to help.”

The first parish to join SCIAF’s Partners For Justice was St Francis Xavier’s in Falkirk who launched the scheme at a mass on Sunday 5th October. A member of SCIAF's staff presented parishioners with a flag – a gift from The Landless Workers Movement, one of SCIAF’s partners from Brazil.

For the first year, Partners For Justice will focus on SCIAF’s work in Brazil, supporting families in impoverished rural communities where farmers are being forced off their land so that sugar cane can be grown in order to produce bio-fuels. SCIAF works with its Brazilian partner CPT to lobby law-makers in the country on land reform and provide legal advice and support to communities who have been evicted. As a result of this work over 800 families have been able to move back into their homes and grow food for their families on their own land.

Clea added:

“SCIAF will be sharing the amazing stories of the communities we work with across the world and there will be lots of ideas on how parishes and groups can get involved. We have a wide range of resources, including posters, fact sheets, videos and on-line blogs from our partners overseas.

“We are really looking forward to giving our supporters, and all those interested in SCIAF’s work, a much deeper insight into the difference we can make together, in our common struggle for human dignity.”

New Partners For Justice groups will receive a welcome pack which they will be able to update with new information and resources throughout the year, and for each new theme. This will include tips on how to start a group, in-depth information on projects and countries, and fundraising ideas and activities.

Members of the public who would like to find out more about Partners For Justice can visit contact Clea Ferguson on 0141 354 5555.