Results are pouring in for one of our best THINKfast years ever!
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Development and Peace UVic was delighted to have William Goldiet, founder and president of the St. Bakhita Anakdiar Peace Foundation, come and speak to us about his life our first THINKfast! on the UVic campus.
William was born in Southern Sudan, but moved to Lebanon as a UN recognized refugee. Unfortunately the Lebanese government did not recognize the UN refugee status held by William and many of his fellow Sudanese. As a result, William was jailed three times during his time in Lebanon, as were many of the Sudanese community. In response, William founded the Fellowship of the Sudanese congregations in Lebanon (FSCL) as well as the St. Bakhita Group in Lebanon to provide support for Sudanese families.
Three years ago the diocese of Victoria, BC, sponsored William to move to Canada. Since arriving he has become the president of the African Heritage Association on Vancouver Island that represents all African and Caribbean people in Canada.
William’s aim is to support communities in Southern Sudan, as the region becomes a new nation this July, as well as provide help to Sudanese people who immigrate to Canada. He created the St. Bakhita Anakdiar Peace Foundation (Sabapef) to contribute in the development of the southern Sudanese self-efficacy in conflict management to deescalate tribal hostility. The Sabapef works hand in hand with the local people and various communities to provide social services in villages in south Sudan, and also assists Sudanese immigrants to settle and integrate into Canadian communities.
Sabapef believes that investing in early childhood development will prepare children to help themselves and to contribute in creating a peaceful, respectful, responsible, united and just society. To this end, Sabapef provides vocational training, shelters, healthcare, education, legal aid, social services and counseling to foster child dignity and empower them with a sense of meaning and purpose.
Development and Peace UVic was delighted to have William come and share his message of hope for Southern Sudan and the Sudanese people living at home or abroad. We were inspired by his courageous actions to support marginalized communities and his desire to remain in solidarity with Sudanese people throughout the world. Keep an eye out for the creation of an independent Southern Sudan, expected to happen on the 9th July, and remain in solidarity with all the people of the region!
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?)!
Water Justice Movies for THINKfast! 2011
http://flowthefilm.com/trailer
Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.
http://www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com/
In every corner of the globe, we are polluting, diverting, pumping, and wasting our limited supply of fresh water at an expediential level as population and technology grows. The rampant overdevelopment of agriculture, housing and industry increase the demands for fresh water well beyond the finite supply, resulting in the desertification of the earth.
Corporate giants force developing countries to privatize their water supply for profit. Wall Street investors target desalination and mass bulk water export schemes. Corrupt governments use water for economic and political gain. Military control of water emerges and a new geo-political map and power structure forms, setting the stage for world water wars.
We follow numerous worldwide examples of people fighting for their basic right to water, from court cases to violent revolutions to U.N. conventions to revised constitutions to local protests at grade schools. As Maude Barlow proclaims, “This is our revolution, this is our war”. A line is crossed as water becomes a commodity. Will we survive?
http://www.waterfrontmovie.com/
The Water Front is the story of an American city in crisis but it is not just about water. The story touches on the very essence of our democratic system and is an unnerving indication of what is in store for residents around the world facing their own water struggles. (53 minutes, 2007)
