Scottish Catholic Observer

St Francis Xavier’s Primary School recently added up their contributions to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund over the years and discovered the incredible total.

£57,749 has been raised by pupils at the school, as they took part in SCIAF’s fundraising work which combines activities to raise money with opportunities to learn about the developing world and global issues including poverty and climate change.

“The children of St Francis Xavier’s in Falkirk have raised a fantastic amount of money to help SCIAF’s life-changing work with some of the poorest people in the world,” SCIAF’s Val Morgan said. “They are really helping us to give people the practical help they need like seeds, farm tools, training and small loans so they can change their lives for the better, for good. We’re extremely grateful and will make sure that every penny makes a difference.”

The school has taken part in a number of SCIAF’s campaigns over the years, devoting their Lenten appeal each year to the charity. In 2014, their Lenten fundraising work raised £5680 for the charity with a coffee morning, sponsored events and by collecting money in their Wee Boxes. Through their efforts, the pupils learned about Columbia, the poverty in the country and how many people are exploited by the mining trade.

The previous year, £7100 was raised for SCIAF’s work in Burundi.

Pupils from the school also helped launch the 50th anniversary Lenten Appeal last year as they appeared alongside singers Susan Boyle and Nicholas McDonald at the charity’s Glasgow offices.

Tina O’Neill, headteacher at the school, said she was very proud of the pupils’ efforts.

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—This story ran in full in the February 5 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.