Last year’s Trócaire Lenten campaign raised almost € 8.3 million, which was about a 4 per cent increase on the 2014 figure of € 8 million.
The funds were used to help 2.4 million people in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East and included 45,000 families who got access to local resources, including land and water.
The agency also protected over 700 human rights defenders who were abused and attacked in Guatemala and approximately 6,000 women who survived abuse and were provided with healthcare, counselling and legal aid.
In its Lenten campaign this year, the biggest annual fundraising campaign in Ireland, the Trócaire box is featuring people from Ireland celebrating the charity's supporters and all who are fighting for justice for the world's poor.
Executive director Eamon Meehan said: "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.
“The people featured on the box are schoolchildren, 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.”
The campaign runs from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, March 27th next.
Trócaire was founded in 1973 by Ireland’s Catholic Bishops to combat extreme poverty and injustice overseas.
Trócaire boxes are available from parishes, through trocaire.org or by phoning 1850 408 408.
