by Claire Cook
Pupils from St Peter’s Primary in Dumbarton have been learning to care for people around the world, thanks to a dedicated programme by the charity SCIAF.
The ‘Talented Fundraisers’ project by the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund is all about giving young people the opportunity to use their creativity, enterprise and other talents to raise awareness and funds for the work of SCIAF around the world.
Through this, the pupils of St Peter’s managed to turn just £60 into an amazing £500!
The project reflects some of SCIAF’s work overseas helping communities to set up saving and loan co-operatives. We provide the tools and training they need to set up a small business in their community, helping people to work their way out of poverty. By trusting the students with an initial loan, they can take control of the project and learn through doing. All the money is then returned to SCIAF to support our work providing long term development and emergency help to people around the world.
Last week the pupils visited the SCIAF offices in Glasgow City Centre to tell staff how the project was going.
SCIAF’s Jenna Fulton said: “It was wonderful to welcome the children of St Peter’s Primary. I’m sure everyone who came along will attest to how fantastic the kids were.
“It was a real highlight of the year getting to hear them speak so passionately about SCIAF and the work they did to support us.”
Teacher Andrew McFall was delighted his class got involved. He said: “The SCIAF Young Fundraisers project was, for me, a truly profound teaching moment. It was remarkable to see the pupils’ transition from learning about our faith to truly living it out.
“Our Primary 7 class didn’t just raise money; they internalised the lesson of the Parable of the Talents, recognising and applying their own God-given skills for a greater purpose. They understood that the ultimate motivation was fulfilling Jesus’ new commandment: to ‘love one another just as He loved us.’
“By prioritising the mission ‘to put the Christ back in Christmas’ through creating affordable Nativity scenes, they became effective ‘new evangelisers’ right here in our local community.
“In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the project allowed them to consciously take on the role of ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ The pupils are delighted to have raised such a healthy sum of money, which they know will directly support their brothers and sisters in need. They learned that faith is an action, and through their hands and hearts, they delivered tangible hope to the world.”
The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland and a proud member of the Caritas family.
We reach out to our global neighbours in need, irrespective of their race, religion or background. We work with those in the world’s poorest places to end poverty, protect our common home, and help people recover from disaster. SCIAF is a registered Scottish charity, no: SC012302.
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SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, is the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, working across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, to support some of the world’s poorest people.