A RECORD breaking £3.4million will help change the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.

This year's Sciaf Wee Box lent appeal brought in the a total three times greater than the previous highest amount.

Baroness Verma of the Department for International Development (DFID) visited SCIAF’s offices in Glasgow to hear about the charity’s history and how the money raised will help women farmers in Africa and poor people around the world.

The tripling of the previous highest amount of £964,000 comes as the charity marks its 50th anniversary. This year’s appeal benefitted hugely from UK Aid Match funding from the British government, which meant that every pound donated was doubled.

Schools, parishes and individual supporters across Scotland raised £1.7million.

Baroness Verma of the Department for International Development (DFID) visited SCIAF’s offices in Glasgow today to hear about the charity’s history and how the money raised in this record-breaking appeal will help women farmers in Africa and poor people around the world.

SCIAF’s Head of Communications and Education Philippa Bonella welcomed the Baroness to the charity’s office in Glasgow and thanked supporters for their fantastic response to the appeal.

She said: “It’s a great privilege to welcome Baroness Verma to SCIAF to mark the great success of our WEE BOX Lent appeal this year.

"The UK government’s match funding has made a huge difference and means we can help many more people to free themselves from hunger, poverty and injustice.

“I’d like to thank everyone, especially schools and parishes, who’ve worked really hard to make this year’s appeal very special.

"During visits all round Scotland we’ve heard of many different and creative ways that children, parishioners and other supporters have raised so much money for SCIAF’s work.

"It’s really inspirational.

"Together over the last 50 years we’ve given millions of families a better chance in life and hope for the future.

"We won’t stop while they still need our help.”

International Development Minister Baroness Verma said: “I’m so pleased to be at SCIAF to celebrate the incredible result of their appeal.

"The generosity of the Scottish public will help to transform the future for even more women farmers in Africa and I’m delighted that the UK government’s match funding will ensure their donations go even further.

“SCIAF may be a smaller charity but they are making a massive difference to the lives of people in some of the world’s poorest countries.

"They are a fantastic example of the immense contribution Scotland is making to the UK’s international development effort and what we can achieve working together.”

This year’s appeal was launched by the charity’s President, Bishop Joseph Toal, singing stars Susan Boyle and Nicholas McDonald, broadcaster Kaye Adams and children from Holyrood Secondary (Glasgow), St Aidan’s High (Wishaw), St Columba’s High (Gourock), St John’s Academy (Perth), St Andrew’s Primary (Kilmarnock) and St Francis Xavier’s Primary (Falkirk).

SCIAF supporter and singer Susan Boyle said: “This is an amazing result – beyond our wildest dreams.

"When I helped to launch the appeal in February I thought it would do really well but I’d no idea it would be this successful.

"It’s really fantastic that people have taken SCIAF’s WEE BOX appeal to their hearts and given so generously.

"Many more people who are hungry and poor will now get the help they need to improve the lives and have a better future.”

The money raised by the appeal will help women farmers in Malawi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to grow more food, earn money to support their children, and play an active part in their communities, as well as helping other poor people around the world to change their lives.