Charity hopes for 1,000 Scots to change children's world

Published on Tuesday 1 September 2009 01:11

A CAMPAIGN to recruit 1,000 Scots to sponsor 1,000 children living in poverty in the developing world is being launched today by an international aid agency.

World Vision's "One Nation, One Month, 1,000 Children" campaign aims to transform the lives of children around the globe from India to Ethiopia, Niger and Senegal.

Carol Smillie, the Scottish television and radio presenter, is to launch the campaign at the Princes Mall in Edinburgh. She said: "I'm delighted to be supporting World Vision in its extremely worthwhile campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need for child sponsorship.

"Hopefully 1,000 Scots will sponsor a child this month and show that as one nation known for its generosity, we really can make a difference to the quality of life for those in the developing world."

She added: "It takes just one act of kindness to help tackle the issue of child poverty, by providing access to life's essentials such as health and education for children all over the world."

Ms Smillie will unveil a giant number "1" – a symbol chosen to represent Scotland's challenge as one nation helping transform lives.

The figure 1 will be seen in coming weeks at the RRS Discovery in Dundee, the Pittodrie Stadium in Aberdeen and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.

Matt Wenham, acquisition manager at World Vision, said: "Scotland is a very generous nation and we're extremely grateful to the thousands of Scots who already sponsor with us.

"We believe that the best way to change the life of a child is to change the world in which they live.

"It costs just 18 a month to sponsor a child, and with the support of 1,000 people across regions in Scotland, we can transform the lives of 1,000 children and the lives of their communities in a real and lasting way."

A YouGov survey of 1,078 adults commissioned by the charity showed 92 per cent of people in Scotland give to charity and 70 per cent have not reduced donations despite the recession.