What can we do to make a splash on (or around) Bottled Water Free Day???
How about having a public event to announce that your municipality, university, school, parish or other public institution is going bottled water free?
Or planning a meeting with decision makers to help make that happen?
Or building a sculpture – a monster, a waterfall, a giant water tap – from empty water bottles and displaying it somewhere public and visible?
Or creating a big, public display of signed pledge cards and getting lots of other people to sign on?
Your school, university, college, parish, community group etc. can endorse Bottled Water Free Day
The first full week of February is International Development Week across Canada. It’s all about:
Learning more about Canada’s role in international development, and discovering more about life in developing countries.
Finding out how YOU can become an active global citizen and get involved in international development.
Check out Roberta Gramlich’s video I AM MAKING A DIFFERENCE with Development and Peace.
Development and Peace is involved in all of the following councils – made up of organizations who seek to end global poverty and to promote social justice and human digntiy for all.
The councils are a great place to find out about action and advocacy in your city, as well as the best go-to place when looking for internships, volunteer opportunities and jobs in international development.
Jesus felt compassion when faced with human suffering. We are called to feel that same depth of compassion when faced with the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Through your generous donations to Development and Peace this and every Lent, you help build a world of justice.
A blog for Share Lent!
This year, in addition to the printed material, Development and Peace has also created an interactive blog that will use the testimony of members to publicize the work being carried out by its partners in the Global South.
There you will find photos, videos and articles to share.
The blog will be active starting on the first day of Lent, March 9, 2011. You can subscribe to the blog right away! You will receive an invitation to follow the blog during its launch and a weekly update of published articles.
In the meantime, you can receive daily information about Development and Peace, its campaigns and its partners in the Global South by becoming part of our community in the social media:
New: Participate in fundraising online
This year, for the very first time, you can participate in our online fundraising efforts for Share Lent by creating a personal page. Offer your talents to those who need them (music, gardening, cooking) and, in exchange, ask your entourage to give to Development and Peace.
Fundraising online will be possible starting on March 9, 2011. You can sign up now to the blog to receive the necessary information in the week before Lent.
Share your comments and questions here and stay tuned for updates from the Share Lent Blog 2011.
“Welcome to Development and Peace. Please fasten your seatbelt to prepare for the ride of your life!”
This is what I could have been told as I landed in Ottawa this past September 2010. I arrived in Ontario, a western Canadian girl, trying my very best to have no preconceived notions. I came as an undergraduate student with the Laurentian Leadership Centre, a semester long internship program with Trinity Western University, hoping to cap off my degree in International Studies with an insider’s look at a development organization.
What drew me specifically to Development and Peace is the fact that it is a Catholic-based organization working, in direct relationship with the Church, guided by Catholic social teaching, to effectively transform the world in love through social justice action. My prior limited experience with D&P set me as an open book to be written in.
Well, rides and books aside (I am the analogy queen) interning in the Eastern Ontario Regional office was a wonderful experience. The small office—my supervisor and I comprised the office workforce—saw a flurry of activity from rallies to speaking engagements to creative adventures. I quickly discovered the mission of D&P, the basics of the operation, and the breadth of issues that the organization has tackled.
The timing of my placement allowed me to jump head in to the work conducted in support of Bill C-300. Despite the bill’s defeat in the House of Commons the entire process was such a great opportunity to be amidst the action. It opened lines of meaningful dialogue, challenging me to dig deeper and ask serious questions outside of the academic setting. I met such inspiring, passionate people. For me, it was a firsthand chance to see passion put into action—the way conviction is meant to challenge our comfortable lives.
Much of the remainder of my internship experience was meaningful in a different way. It was my turn to put faith and conviction into action. Our office moved forward in what I have coined the “Ottawa Catholic Schools Initiative”. It has been a concerted (and successful) effort to further partner with the Ottawa Catholic schools and surrounding area to share our passion and educate students on issues; it is specifically aimed to be interactive, for students to feel empowered and inspired, to know that they can make a difference. How this crystallized was through collaborative efforts with chaplains and presentations to a number of schools in the area.
Now the time has come to leave. I have met amazing people who are the lifeblood of D&P. I have been inspired by people who stand for change, who are willing to change their own lives to see transformation become a reality. I have been challenged. And now I fasten my seatbelt to go home…
by Suzanne Cailliau
(former) Intern to the Eastern Ontario Regional Animator with Development and Peace
Happy New Year! With the amazing fundraising and advocacy we accomplished in 2010… I can’t wait to see what else we can do together!
Just before Christmas our 2011 THINKfast kits filled Canada Post mailboxes east and west. Thanks to Natalie, our Youth Programs Intern from the fall, and the whole THINKfast team here in Toronto we are thrilled to be sharing with you our newest THINKfast in print and online!
WHAT’S NEW?
THE LOOK:
A new coiled book format
Revamped directions and planning tools
THE RESOURCES:
New or transformed resources on our campaign WATER FOR ALL!
Alternative activities uploaded online
Extra resources on your DVD
THE FUNDRAISING:
THINKfast online fundraising right here on the blog
This past year we showed the world the meaning of generous – Canadians raised 20 MILLION for emergency relief and reconstruction in Haiti and 7 MILLION for the same in Pakistan. 1 MILLION of this came from schools and school boards: elementary, high schools, colleges and universities.
AMAZING. And then, thanks to your THINKfast efforts, we raised over $200,000 in much needed funds for justice and peace in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
With thanks to everyone for spreading the word -we at Development and Peace are extending the deadline for applications until January 15, 2011. We have enough applicants, but would like to see more representation from ALL our provinces.
Of the applications we received were mostly from the West: BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – and because it’s a special national, bilingual trip, we want to have more variety with young members from all the different regions and provinces of Canada. A group that is representative of Canada and the range of young members in our movement makes for a dynamite group: from east to west, French & English, with youth & young adults. Join us!
The NEW deadline is now January 15th, 2011.
The next Development and Peace Youth Solidarity Trip, which for the first time in Development and Peace history, will be in the Middle East, specifically to Lebanon in June 2011!
The trip will allow us to visit Development and Peace partners who work in the region and to live an incredible multicultural experience – French, English and Arabic.
The info flyer and application form for the Solidarity Trip, which includes info on the trip objectives, costs, applicant criteria, etc can be downloaded here (info flyer) and here (application form).
In early December, five French-speaking and five English-speaking young adult members will be chosen by the selection committees to join the 2 Youth Programs Staff Genevieve Gallant and Marie-Hélène Roy in preparing for the trip.
Please spread the word – so as many youth and young adults involved in Development & Peace can consider applying.
Application deadline is JANUARY 15, 2011.
Any and all questions welcome – contact Genevieve Gallant at ggallant@devp.org OR 416-922-1592 or 1-800-494-1401 ext 230.
Bottled water: Safer and cleaner than tap water, easy on the environment…or maybe not. Look a little deeper and you’ll see that these claims don’t hold water. In fact, the very opposite is often true. The bottling and selling of water creates a culture where drinking water is viewed as a commodity or a private good, available only to those who can afford to pay.
In the Global South, sales of bottled water are on the rise. At the same time, water sources are increasingly being privatized. Bottled water should never be viewed as an alternative to safe, accessible public water systems.
By signing this pledge, I commit to supporting publicly owned and operated water systems. One of the ways I can do that is to choose tap water over bottled water, whenever possible.
I commit to working to create bottled water free zones in my home and in the public places where I spend my time. These include my university, school, parish, workplace and community. I will also support efforts to have bottled water replaced by tap water in all municipal and provincial public spaces where safe water is available.
Spread the word and discover more about our internships at the Toronto office in September!
We are searching for a dynamic and committed individual for our full-time internship with Youth Programs at Development and Peace in Toronto.
In 2010-2011 we will also be looking at how we can include virtual volunteers and part-time interns within our Youth Programs to work on specific projects and regional initiatives.
Interested in becoming a YOUTH PROGRAMS INTERN? Join us! JOB POSTING: September – December 2010
The Youth Programs Intern will work closely with the Youth Programs Officer to promote and support the involvement of young people in Development and Peace (CCODP). Currently there are more than 150 Development and Peace JUST YOUTH groups across the country who participate in our education and fundraising campaigns.
The internship is a voluntary position, for a young adult aged 18-35. It has been designed to meet the needs of CCODP and the Intern’s learning goals. This internship is in our Toronto office.
Responsibilities will include:
Support for the creation of our THINKfast! 2010 kit, from beginning to finish; includes project planning, writing materials, developing popular education activities along with print design, formatting, mailings.
Assist in production of JUST NEWS for JUST YOUTH Groups, print and online.
Provide general office support such as mailing materials to members, entering data for THINKfast! registrations, counting action cards, updating mailing lists and organizing videos and books in the office.
Promote our programs and respond to requests for our materials from volunteers, youth groups, youth ministers, chaplains, and teachers.
Participate in the design and facilitation of workshops for young people on faith and global issues.
Deliver presentations on Development and Peace to youth in local high schools.
Along with the Toronto Animator and local members participate in planning and facilitation of the Action Campaign launch and Student Days.
Participate in our social media, video, photo and online blogging initiatives.
Join in discussions regarding youth strategy for the organization.
Skills Required:
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Publisher, Excel, Outlook
Goal oriented and able to work independently
Strong writing skills
Keen interest in developing your presentation and facilitation skills
Experience in creating interactive activities on faith and global issues
Knowledge of group-building and popular educational principles
Knowledge of the Church and its commitments to social justice and international development
Desire to learn and to serve the movement of Development and Peace
Remuneration: For this internship Development and Peace is offering an honorarium of $500 per month for 35 hours a week, which includes occasional evening and/or weekend presentations or workshops. The internship requires a 4 month commitment, with a possibility of extension into 2011.
Start Date: September 7, 2010.
Application deadline is Monday July 5, 2010.
To apply: To send in an application please include a) your resume b) a cover letter describing why you would like to work for Development and Peace and what you hope to learn during your internship. Send your application by email to Genevieve Gallant, Youth Programs, Development and Peace at ggallant@devp.org
What can we do to make a splash on (or around) Bottled Water Free Day??? 
Just before Christmas our 2011 THINKfast kits filled Canada Post mailboxes east and west. Thanks to Natalie, our Youth Programs Intern from the fall, and the whole THINKfast team here in Toronto we are thrilled to be sharing with you our newest THINKfast in print and online!