SCIAF
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, better known by its acronym SCIAF, is the official aid and development agency of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland
. SCIAF works in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America, to help some of the poorest people in the world, regardless of religion, work their way out of poverty.
In Scotland, SCIAF campaigns to address the underlying causes of global poverty
and injustice, such as unfair trade
and debt
, by lobbying governments, businesses, and international organisations to bring about long-term change. SCIAF works closely with schools and young people across Scotland to educate the ‘decision makers of the future’ and give them opportunities to get involved in fighting global injustice.
SCIAF
SCIAF stands for Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. SCIAF was founded in 1965 by the catholic bishops of Scotland. The main places that SCIAF serve are Asia, Africa, Latin America and Scotland
to give practical help to the world’s poorest people and to raise awareness of the causes of their poverty
. In its first 40 years SCIAF raised over £65 million.
On SCIAF’s 40th anniversary, then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown
paid this tribute:
“From small beginnings in 1965 in a small school classroom in Rutherglen… with funds of just £8,000…SCIAF has grown into Scotland's leading international aid charity.”
SCIAF
SCIAF stands for Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. SCIAF was founded in 1965 by the catholic bishops of Scotland. The main places that SCIAF serve are Asia, Africa, Latin America and Scotland
and Trocaire
in the UK and Ireland.
SCIAF is also a member of CIDSE (International Co-operation for Development and Solidarity) which is an alliance of 16 Catholic development organisations from Europe and North America. CIDSE members work together to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice.
SCIAF's vision is of a world in which all people, especially the poor and oppressed, have the opportunity and the means to live life, and live it to the full.
, in which participating solicitors waive their usual fee to write a basic will and in exchange invite the client to donate to charity.
St Denis Raised Over £1000 for SCIAF in the Haiti Earthquake
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. SCIAF works in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America, to help some of the poorest people in the world, regardless of religion, work their way out of poverty.
Introduction
Today, SCIAF supports over 80 long term development projects helping people affected by conflict, hunger, HIV/AIDS, lack of health care and disability. SCIAF also responds to humanitarian disasters, such as the southeast Asian tsunami and the long running conflict in Darfur, with emergency provisions and support.In Scotland, SCIAF campaigns to address the underlying causes of global poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and injustice, such as unfair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
and debt
Developing countries' debt
The debt of developing countries is external debt incurred by governments of developing countries, generally in quantities beyond the governments' political ability to repay...
, by lobbying governments, businesses, and international organisations to bring about long-term change. SCIAF works closely with schools and young people across Scotland to educate the ‘decision makers of the future’ and give them opportunities to get involved in fighting global injustice.
SCIAF
SCIAF stands for Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. SCIAF was founded in 1965 by the catholic bishops of Scotland. The main places that SCIAF serve are Asia, Africa, Latin America and Scotland
History
SCIAF was set up in 1965 by the Catholic Bishops of ScotlandBishops' Conference of Scotland
The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is an episcopal conference for Roman Catholic bishops in Scotland and is based in Airdrie. The conference is primarily made up of the presiding bishops of Scotland's eight dioceses as well as bishops who have retired....
to give practical help to the world’s poorest people and to raise awareness of the causes of their poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. In its first 40 years SCIAF raised over £65 million.
On SCIAF’s 40th anniversary, then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
paid this tribute:
“From small beginnings in 1965 in a small school classroom in Rutherglen… with funds of just £8,000…SCIAF has grown into Scotland's leading international aid charity.”
SCIAF
SCIAF stands for Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. SCIAF was founded in 1965 by the catholic bishops of Scotland. The main places that SCIAF serve are Asia, Africa, Latin America and Scotland
Caritas Internationalis
SCIAF is a member of Caritas Internationalis, the worldwide network of 163 Catholic aid agencies which is one of the biggest humanitarian organisations in the world. It includes SCIAF, CAFODCAFOD
The Catholic Agency For Overseas Development, previously known as the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, is a United Kingdom-based international aid agency working to alleviate poverty and suffering in developing. It is funded by the Catholic community in England and Wales, the UK government...
and Trocaire
Trócaire
Trócaire is an Irish non governmental organization development agency. The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No...
in the UK and Ireland.
SCIAF is also a member of CIDSE (International Co-operation for Development and Solidarity) which is an alliance of 16 Catholic development organisations from Europe and North America. CIDSE members work together to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice.
Mission statement
" Inspired by the Gospel call to build a just world, SCIAF challenges injustice by strengthening poor and oppressed people and by stimulating the Scottish public to share in our common struggle for human dignity."SCIAF's vision is of a world in which all people, especially the poor and oppressed, have the opportunity and the means to live life, and live it to the full.
Fundraising
SCIAF helps to fund, and is aided with funds raised by, the national will-making scheme Will aidWill Aid
Will Aid is a charity will-writing scheme designed to reinforce the need for everyone to have a professionally drawn-up will and to raise funds for the participating charities....
, in which participating solicitors waive their usual fee to write a basic will and in exchange invite the client to donate to charity.
St Denis Raised Over £1000 for SCIAF in the Haiti Earthquake