SCIAF
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| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | |
| Founder(s) | Catholic Bishops of Scotland |
|---|---|
| Type | Humanitarian aid, International development |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Area served | Asia, Africa, Latin America |
| Focus | Humanitarian aid, International development |
| Slogan | Scotland's aid agency |
| Website | Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund |
SCIAF is the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, the official aid and development agency of the 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.
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[edit] 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 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.
[edit] History
SCIAF was set up in 1965 by the Catholic Bishops of 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 Prime Minister Tony Blair 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.”
[edit] 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, CAFOD 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 15 Catholic development organisations from Europe and North America. CIDSE members work together to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice.
[edit] 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.
