Our 2016 Lent campaign has launched with new-look Trócaire box

We launched our 43rd Lent campaign this week, the biggest annual fundraising campaign in Ireland. For the first time, this year’s Trócaire box features people from Ireland, celebrating Trócaire supporters, who are fighting for justice for the world’s poor.

Caption: The 2016 Trócaire box

“This year’s Trócaire box is a recognition of ordinary people, who are doing extraordinary things in the pursuit of justice and a fairer world,” said Éamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Trócaire.

“The people featured on the box are school children, teachers, grandparents, clergy, volunteers and families. All of them have something in common. They cannot ignore poverty and they want to make a difference in whatever way they can. Together, they are fighting for justice for the world’s poor.”

Caption: Some of the Irish supporters who feature on this year’s Trócaire box.

Last year the Lent campaign raised almost €8.3m in public donations, about a 4 per cent increase on the 2014 figure of €8m.

Thanks to support from people in Ireland, Trócaire supported 2.4 million people across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East in 2015. This included 45,000 poor families who got access to local resources, including land and water. Trócaire protected over 700 human rights defenders who were abused and attacked in Guatemala and over 6,000 women, who survived abuse, got healthcare, counselling and legal aid to get justice.

“Sometimes, it is easy to look at the scale of global poverty and think ‘ what can I do?’, said Eamonn Meehan. “This year, our Trócaire box is dedicated to thanking the thousands of people who say ‘I’ll do what I can’.”    

Our Lent 2016 Campaign runs from Ash Wednesday 10th February to Easter Sunday, 27th March 2016.

Trócaire boxes are available from parishes, or you can order online or by phoning 1850 408 408.

As well as donating through the Trócaire box and donating online, you can download a free Trócaire box app for your mobile phones or tablets. The app is available from the Apple App Store or Google Playstore.