Trocaire praises Co Antrim public for £900,000 funding boost

“The Lenten campaign is our largest annual fundraising and awareness-raising campaign and this year was even more significant because the UK government pledged to match public donations here, pound for pound, up to £900,000. I am absolutely delighted to announce that because of people’s generosity here at home we have been able to secure this ‘UK Aid Match’ money. A special thanks must go to the clergy and parishioners right across Co. Antrim for their terrific support this Lent,” said Eithne McNulty, Trocaire’s regional manager.

“The Lenten campaign focused on northern Uganda and the hundreds of thousands of people who are trying to rebuild their lives after decades of brutal conflict. Little Daniel, who appeared on the Trocaire box, symbolised these people. The public in Northern Ireland took Daniel and his community into their homes and hearts and once again have shown they have not forgotten the world’s poorest and most oppressed people,” Eithne McNulty continued.

Andrew Mitchell, UK Secretary of State for International Development, said: “The people of Northern Ireland have clearly demonstrated their generosity with this impressive display of support for Trocaire’s work. This will help to ensure some of the poorest communities in Uganda can grow enough food to earn an income and to feed their families, as well as protecting their rights to the land they grow it on.

“By matching these donations pound for pound, we will help Trocaire double the impact it can have in helping people whose lives have been turned upside down by 20 years of fighting as they start to build a more prosperous, stable future for themselves and for their children.”

“This money means tens of thousands more people will get help to not only secure their right to land but also support with ploughs, seeds and training to help them grow enough food to feed their families. We cannot thank people here at home enough for their support,” Eithne McNulty concluded.

To make a donation or to find out more about Trocaire’s work log on to www.trocaire.org or call 0800 912 1200.