Results are pouring in for one of our best THINKfast years ever!
Will you take a minute to fill out our Evaluation form through this online survey? Thank YOU!
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Political turmoil in Cote d’Ivoire leads to humanitarian crisis: Development and Peace supporting aid – more needed
The deteriorating political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire has left over 350,000 people displaced within the country with little access to food or health services. If tensions and violence continue to rise the humanitarian situation could worsen as more flee with little hope of returning to their homes in the near future.
Development and Peace is responding with a contribution of $50,000 towards emergency relief, being organized by local agency Caritas Côte d’Ivoire. Aid is being provided to the displaced and host families, and includes the distribution of food, hygiene kits, blankets and other household items, as well as health services such as screening children for malnutrition, improved access to clean water, and ensuring the safety of those displaced.
Côte d’Ivoire has been in a political crisis since 2002, when electoral candidate Alassane Ouattara was excluded from elections. Divisions within the country led to conflict and the country in fact split in two. Scheduled elections for 2005 were postponed repeatedly and finally took place in October 2010. However, the in-office president Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit defeat to Ouattara, which plunged the country into turmoil.
Ongoing violence has forced thousands to flee their homes, either crossing into neighbouring countries or moving to other regions of Côte d’Ivoire. It is estimated that the number of internally displaced people has increased five-fold in as little as two weeks, placing strains on host families and leaving people vulnerable to hunger and disease.
“A critical humanitarian situation is unfolding in Côte d’Ivoire and it can’t be forgotten. People are living in fear and need help,” says Barbara Trachsel, Emergency Programs Officer at Development and Peace.
Development and Peace is encouraging Canadians to further help with this emergency response by making a donation to Development and Peace by telephone (1 888 664-3387), online or by sending a cheque made out to Development and Peace and indicating Côte d’Ivoire Crisis and sending it to:
Development and Peace
1425 René-Lévesque Blvd. West. 3rd Floor,
Montreal QC H3G 1T7
We are also currently leading its annual Share Lent fundraising campaign. 10% of donations go towards an emergency relief fund, which allows Development and Peace to respond immediately to humanitarian crises in the Global South, especially those which risk being overlooked or forgotten, such as this one. By supporting Share Lent, you help Development and Peace respond throughout to year to situations like the one in Côte d’Ivoire.
For more information on Development and Peace’s Share Lent campaign, and to see where Fr. Luis will be throughout his stay in Ottawa, visit the Share Lent blog.
Since its foundation by the Jesuits in 1988, the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center (Center Prodh) has worked to defend, promote and increase respect for human rights in Mexico.
As a result of its efforts, inspired by close contact with victims and characterized by professionalism and a holistic perspective in defending and promoting human rights, Center Prodh has achieved:
* The successful defense of crucial cases of human rights violations, including the liberation of a number of prisoners of conscience.
* The strengthening of human rights activists’ work in various regions of Mexico through trainings, workshops, and courses.
* Successful activism, litigation, and other participation before international bodies such as:
* An active presence in various networks of Mexican human rights organizations and fruitful dialogue with academic and research bodies.
Media? Newspaper article in the Catholic Register about the Carleton University THINKfast
Still planning? Full THINKfast kit in an e-book format
Promo? St. Thomas Aquinas in Brampton’s promo video for Bottled Water Free Zones
Videos to watch?
http://youth.devp.org/2011/01/water-justice-movies/
http://youth.devp.org/2010/03/thank-you-videos/
http://youth.devp.org/tag/videos/
As always, send us in your photos, media, flyers and we will put them up!
This week is D and P Makes a Difference week! March 10 – March 20 is your chance to make a difference with Development and Peace.
This special week is an initiative of D & P with the Canadian Catholic Student Assocation – and there are events across the country!
Toronto, University of St. Michael’s College: Bottled Water Free campaign throughout the weekFor more info on these events and contacts so you can join them, check out the Catholic Students Week listing on the CCSA website.
Join us for Share Lent 2011 — the annual awareness and fundraising campaign of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Through your generous donations to Development and Peace this and every Lent, you help build a world of justice.
THE NEW BLOG IS LIVE!
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.
You will find photos, videos and articles to share, a calendar of events and all the resources you need to a rocking Share Lent in your school or parish!
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.
So, check it out. See you over at the Share Lent blog!
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:
THE RESOURCES:
THE FUNDRAISING:
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.
FROM 2009-2010 OUR…
TOP REGIONAL THINKfasters!
British Columbia/Yukon: St Thomas Aquinas High School, North Vancouver $10,851.30 AND St Andrew Catholic High School with Victoria-area parishes $2,424,29
Alberta/North West Territories: J.M. Picard Ecole, Edmonton $2,365.35 AND Holy Trinity Parish, Spruce Grove $1,770.00
Saskatchewan: Sacred Heart CHS, Yorkton $1,920.00 AND St Peter’s Parish, Regina $325.00
Manitoba: St Boniface Diocesan High School, Winnipeg $3,072.00 and St Patrick’s Church, Winnipeg $1,361.25
Ontario: Bishop Reding CHS, Milton $10,784.69 AND St John the Divine Parish, London $2,718.55
Quebec: Villa Maria High School, Montreal$1,215.00 AND St. Agnes Parish, Halifax $500.00
New Brunswick: St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, Halifax $1,807.35
PEI: St. Pius X & Holy Redeemer Parishes, Charlottetown $782.00
TOP MONEY RAISED!
HIGH SCHOOL: St Thomas Aquinas High School, Vancouver, BC $10,851.30 AND Bishop Reding CHS, Milton, ON $10,784.69
PARISH: St John the Divine Parish, London ON: $2,718.55
UNIVERSITY: Carleton University, Ottawa ON $1,096.84
MOST IMPROVED!
Immaculate Conception Parish, Prince George, BC $610 (240% increase)
Cardinal Newman CHS, Toronto, ON $750 (220% increase)
St Patrick CHS, Thunder Bay, ON $710 (220% increase)
TOP # of CARDS SIGNED!
St Mary’s CHS, Kitchener: 2, 217 signatures
St Peter’s CSS, Peterborough: 1, 455 signatures
Thank you EVERYONE! Congratulations to our “winners”.
Do you want to know how your group’s THINKfasts have done over the years? Motivate your fellow fasters with startling statistics! Contact us and we will dig up ancient info and find you modern motivating facts (ex. who is your biggest competitor?)!
D and P Makes a Difference week is happening now!
In collaboration with Catholic Students’ Week, students at colleges and univeristry campsuses across Canada are inspiring their Catholic community to be informed, liturgical, and active witnesses on campus to the love of God and of neighbor.
Catholic Students’ Week ends on March 21st with Development and Peace’s Solidarity Sunday – when we join with the rest of the Canadian Church to share our resources with the poor in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Here is a list of all the Development and Peace Makes a Difference week events on campuses:
BC
Vancouver, Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s College at UBC
March 14, 11am: Mass and Soup lunch with Development and Peace guest speaker
AB
Edmonton, St. Joseph’s College
March 21, noon – 2pm: Development and Peace Talk followed by Sunday Brunch hosted by D&P and Campus Ministry
MB
Brandon, University of Brandon
March 14-15: 25 hour THINKfast!
ON
London, King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
March 21st: Solidarity Sunday Mass with Development and Peace presentation on agrofuels
Toronto, Ryerson University
March 21, 5 pm: Mass and Haitian Dinner in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake.
St. Michael’s Cathedral collecting donations for Development and Peace
NB
Fredericton, St. Thomas University
March 15, 10am – 1pm: Development and Peace Share Lent bake sale and card signing
March 16, 6:30pm: Development and Peace screening of Food, INC with pizza and card signing
Development and Peace THINKfast! during “D&P Makes a Difference week: March 14th – 21st
St Francis de Sales Parish
St Boniface Diocesan High School
Our Lady of the Scapular Parish
St. Patrick’s Church
St. Agnes Parish
Christ the King Parish
St Agnes Parish
Ecole J.M. Picard School
Notre Dame de Lorette
St Vincent Parish
Ste Anne-des-Chênes
City Wide St. John’s TF
St John the Divine Parish
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
St. Michael’s Parish
Immaculate Conception Parish
St Agustine & St Joseph Parish
Dauphin Ukranian UCY
and I am sure there are more out there!
Lent has arrived, and with it, the opportunity to See your gift grow in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East!
D&P launched its Share Lent campaign this week, with the goal of raising $10,000,000 to help support the work of our amazing partners in the Global South.
We’re spreading the word about partners like the Interchurch Justice and Peace Commission in Colombia; Cinderlas Institute for Rural Development in Indonesia; and the Papaye Peasants’ Movement in Haiti. You’ll find all kinds of resources to help share their stories here.
D&P Makes a Difference Week , from March 14 to 20, would be a great time to make some noise about them!
There are lots of ways to show solidarity and to work for justice and peace – fundraising is one of them. Right now at D&P, we’re seeing the results of incredible, creative fundraising in schools across Canada for the people of Haiti. When the earthquake struck, D&P sent $50,000 right away, money that was raised during previous Share Lent campaigns because 10% of every Share Lent collection goes to emergency relief. When you raise money for Share Lent this year, you’ll be helping communities to develop in a just, sustainable way. That’s their best protection from the effects of natural disasters.
We thank you for your solidarity. It will change the world!
Siobhan Rowan
Education Program Coordinator
