Scottish bishop highlights Ethiopia’s water crisis with unusual stunt

A Scottish Catholic bishop has carried a sink up a large hill to highlight the global clean water crisis.

Bishop Brian McGee, the bishop president of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), climbed a hill overlooking Oban, Scotland, to bring attention to the annual Lent WEE BOX Appeal 2026, which is raising funds for local organizations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people lift themselves out of poverty.

McGee, who was moved to action after a visit to Ethiopia, said: “In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.”

He added: “Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia far too many women, girls, and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.”

Talking about the stunt, the bishop continued: “Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a ton and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.”

During his visit to the Tigray region of Ethiopia, McGee saw the work of SCIAF on the ground: “It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people’s lives.”

According to the World Health Organization, 43% of Ethiopia’s population does not have access to a clean water source. With the country recovering from a recent war, many are forced to drink unclean water, making them and their families sick.

Ben Wilson, the public engagement director at SCIAF, spoke about Hirit, a young girl from Tigray whose community recently received a new tap installed by the charity.

“All of our time was spent fetching water,” she said. “It used to be very scary — there were attacks by soldiers. One of my brothers was beaten and now lives with injuries to his head.”

She continued: “This tap has resolved so many problems, especially for girls like me. We used to go to school with dirty clothes and bags, and unwashed hair. But now we can stay clean. With water nearby, we have more time and can focus on our education. I want to pursue a career in business when I’m older.”

For Lent each year, Scots give up a favorite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine, or chips and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.

SCIAF is the sister organization of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) in England and Wales.

Each year the charity chooses a different focus country and issue. The decision is taken with their colleagues who work with partners overseas and know which issues to prioritize. While Scotland has its own poverty crisis, SCIAF — which has been in existence since 1965 — was set up “to support our sisters and brothers overseas.”

The appeal comes amid cuts to the U.K. government’s aid budget, which previously supported water projects overseas. SCIAF is calling on the U.K. government to restore international aid to 0.7%.

“Almsgiving is one of the three pillars of Lenten discipline for Catholics, alongside prayer and fasting, focusing on sacrificial giving to the needy as a form of love, justice, and repentance,” said Claire Cook, communications officer at SCIAF.

“It involves donating money, time, or goods to charity, often by sacrificing luxuries like sweets or coffee to support those in poverty.”

McGee added: “With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”