Meet partners supported by Development and Peace (indigenous leaders, campesinos/as, human rights activists, workers and community representatives).
See the country through their eyes.
Listen to the stories of those they help.
Learn first-hand about the work they do.
Paraguay
D&P has been active in Paraguay for the last 30 years!
When: a 2 week trip within the first three weeks of July
Led by: Luke Stocking, Animator for Central Ontario
Colombia
Justicia Y Paz, one of our Colombian partners, was featured in our education campaign on food sovereignty and the impact of agrofuels on the poor. Meet them and others too!
When: a 2 week trip the first two weeks of September after Labour Day
Led by: Paul Lemieux, Animator for Southwestern Ontario and Ann-Christina Gamillscheg, Animator for Eastern Ontario
APPROXIMATE COST IS BETWEEN $2000-$2500 (Real cost is subsidized by D&P – D&P also provides support for local fundraising efforts to help cover the cost.)
Deadline for applications is April 22, 2011
Criteria for Application:
The trip is open to members of Development and Peace 18+ with a proven commitment to our work and who are legally able to travel. Participants must be available for a pre-trip orientation and be willing to share their experiences with others upon return. Due to the nature of the trips, participants must be in good health and be comfortable with simple living conditions.
For more information or to obtain an application form contact: Siobhan Rowan, Education Programs Coordinator srowan@devp.org 416-922-1592 x229
Last Sunday afternoon – amidst thousands of police officers, mob-like media, a fence stretching on for miles, the leaders of the 20 most affluent countries in the world, and a city gone completely awry – hundreds of peace-loving, spirit-sounding, song-singing activists gathered at the corner of King and Bay to speak to God.
I had the privilege of being part of the D&P youth delegation to Huntsville and Toronto for the G8/G20 leaders summits.
This peace vigil, hosted by the Student Christian Movement and Christian Peacemaker Teams, was the last leg of our journey after a long weekend of calling on our leaders to take action on food sovereignty and the rights of small-scale farmers in the Global South.
It was evident to me from attending another protest earlier in the day, and from just walking the streets of Toronto on Sunday, that the city was on edge. The heavy police presence created tension and anxiety, and the violent tactics used by a handful of protesters the previous day had frustrated many.
But for a short time, this prayer vigil was a sanctuary in a broken world.
We marched – singing Kyrie Elision, chanting Alleluia, holding signs and banners with messages of peace and support.
We marched – families, young and old, Christian and Jewish, Catholic and Muslim, men and women, religious and lay people – all committed, prayerfully present and all learning from each other.
We marched – one united, peaceful force, bent on restoring hope and love to a world ravaged by despair and violence.
We sat – faced with no other choice as a line of police blocked our movement towards the fence.
We sat – in solidarity with the oppressed.
We sat – praying for justice for all those that are persecuted.
We sat –in spite of the riot police and their efforts to create fear and seclusion.
We sat – and sang to the music of our brothers’ and sisters’ struggles for justice. ¡Presente!
We sat – and vowed to “keep on marching forward, never turning back”.
And as the tension rose between police and demonstrators, we sang until the fear and hatred had subsided and we could once again recognize and celebrate our common humanity.
The Spirit is alive and it flows through those with a hunger for justice and a thirst for peace.
I am honoured to live among such devoted activists who refuse to surrender to the propagation of fear and the seduction of apathy.
To all those who work for, who play for, who sing for, who long for, who create for, who pray for peace – blessed are you.
May this vigil serve as a lasting reminder of the importance and power of peace in a world that often dismisses it.
by Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt, Eastern Ontario Youth Rep
On February 18th, 2010, Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School kicked off its annual 25 hour Thinkfast!
Over 40 students participated in the fast, raised money and awareness. The event was filled with education, community, enthusiasm and an important display of solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the Global South!
Students were very busy being farmers and CEO’s with our guest speaker Julie, from Development and Peace.
An awesome justice-themed Amazing Race game was held later in the evening. We then learned about the multi-national food industry with a screening of “Food Inc.” The second day of the fast was aimed at bringing awareness to the school community. Students were given the D&P postcards and petitions for their fellow classmates to fill out; all of them were! Our fast closed with a liturgy filled with song and a strong sense of community.
The final fundraising count will be finished shortly. We will post an update once the final numbers are in!
Friday March 5, 2010, marked St. Thomas Aquinas (Brampton) first ever THINKfast, fundraising over $5 000.00.
The Grade 12 IDC Leadership class and the Grade 11 GPP Leadership class led the students of Aquinas in a fun and educational evening that was filled with workshops, a Reality Race and, the fan favorite, Man Hunt.
The Music students opened the evening with a magical performance of ‘I believe’, followed by a heartfelt presentation from the students who traveled to Nicaragua.
The THINKfasters then participated in a community building workshop facilitated by Rising Stars and student-led workshops about Development and Peace and Social Justice. Together they learned about the struggles of those less fortunate, and they learned about the impact our lifestyle here in North America has on the Developing World. They felt the hunger pains, the headaches, the nausea, and the fatigue that millions of people have accepted as a normal part of their every day existence.
And knowing that these feelings are not normal they began to understand how together they can help empower those who desperately need support in their fight for human rights, land rights, and equity. This realization also led those who participated to a greater awareness and appreciation of the opportunities that exist here in Canada. So, they signed petitions.
And after Fasting for 25 hours, they gathered for a meal prepared by our Hospitality students and our Aquinas Community prayed in SOLIDARITY with those in our Global Community.
Our Youth believe and hope to make a difference one choice at a time, one action at a time, and one prayer at a time.
We here at Development and Peace have been super impressed with your leadership, your commitment to international solidarity, and your mad THINKfast skills.
Not only are you generous fundraisers, but you have been leading spin-off THINKfasts in your local parishes. Nice work!
We wanted to thank you in a special way, so… we have a few videos we made – just for you.
Here is a special message from one of our partners who is here with us in Montreal this weekend for a Development and Peace program planning and visioning session.
Meet Victoria Ohaeri of the Social & Economic Rights Action Centre (www.serac.org) in Lagos, Nigeria…
Thank you for all your support and for showing us all how to put our faith into action. Keep being that prophetic voice – sharing the good news and denouncing injustice on behalf of our brothers and sisters around the world. Peace, and God bless!
On the Road with Development and Peace: by James Dempsey
Robert F Hall students present cheque of $17,000!
Since Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake on January 12th, many people have been opening both their hearts and their wallets to give what they can to the struggling nation. This selfless sense of Catholic charity is seen marvelously in Caledon, Ontario, where the Robert F. Hall Social Justice and Haitian Relief Committees worked towards providing a $17,000 donation to aid relief efforts through Development and Peace.
After a long drive out to Caledon with Luke Stocking and his daughter Amy, we were greeted in the school’s office by a secretary proudly sharing the remarkable stories of the school’s dress down days and educational displays all geared towards the need for a Catholic sense of giving.
One story that caught my attention was that of a young man who donated $100 of his own money to the cause. Take this story into consideration, as chances are as a high school student he’s working a part-time job at a minimum wage, making this donation the equivalent of 10 hours of his hard work. It’s stories like these that exemplify the altruistic nature of our Catholic faith.
As the student leaders for this project gathered in front foyer to make the donation presentation, it was evident to me that this cause was more than just a moral obligation to these young people. There was a definite excitement in the air as the culmination of a dedicated effort approached; as if passing that novelty sized check to Luke represented more than just a job well done, but lives changed. That perhaps is the beauty of such a selfless focus, as these efforts to make a difference, once transferred into the care of Caritas Internationalis, will impact a struggling people in a way that nothing else can.
