Buskers help launch wee box charity appeal for overseas aid

Busking school pupils have helped launch a Scottish charity's annual fundraising drive to help benefit some of the world's poorest people.

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf) Wee Box, Big Change appeal asks people to give up a favourite treat such as coffee or chocolate and put the money saved into a Sciaf Wee Box then donate it at Easter to help fund the charity's overseas aid work.

An 18-strong band from St Maurice's High School in Cumbernauld played samba and traditional Scottish tunes in the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow to raise money at the launch of the appeal, which this year focuses on the charity's work helping poor families affected by illegal fishing in Cambodia.

Cambodian family the Langs feature on this year's Wee Box, a fishing and farming family who were left struggling for food after criminal gangs used dynamite and electrocution to harvest fish in their local river.

Fish stocks dropped 50% before Sciaf, working with local partner Development and Partnership in Action, helped the Langs and their neighbours set up a community fishing organisation including river patrols to prevent illegal fishing.

Sciaf's Director Alistair Dutton said: `By supporting Sciaf's Wee Box, you'll help many more people like the Lang family to stand up for their rights and work their way out of poverty.

`We can all work together to make sure people in Cambodia and other poor countries around the world can protect their rights, have enough food to eat and support themselves in the future so they can survive and thrive.'

He welcomed the UK Government's pledge to double donations received before May 8, adding: `So every £1 you give to the Wee Box appeal will become £2.

`I urge everyone to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity and make their money go twice as far. It really will help change the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.'

• sciaf