Members in action

Alula’s husband took all her money and left her alone with two small children to raise. She lives in the city of Me’Kele in the region of Tigray. She speaks to us through an interpreter in her native Tigrinya. "I was depressed with no hope. I went to the government for help and they sent me to the Daughters of Charity."

Development and Peace organized its last Orientation Assembly in Otterburne, Manitoba, from June 11 to 14. In total, nearly 200 people, including delegates from every province in the country, partners from the North and South, young people, members of the National Council, employees, and volunteers gathered to reflect upon and discuss the organization’s broad guidelines for the years to come.

Several members of Development and Peace are currently on a solidarity tour of Ethiopia to visit with local organizations supported by Development and Peace. Over the next few days, they will be writing about their visits and experiences.

Several members of Development and Peace are currently on a solidarity tour of Ethiopia to visit with local organizations supported by Development and Peace. Over the next few days, they will be writing about their visits and experiences.

Several members of Development and Peace are currently on a solidarity tour of Ethiopia to visit with local organizations supported by Development and Peace. Over the next few days, they will be writing about their visits and experiences.
Here is their first message!

On May 9th, I entered into the beautifully decorated church hall of All Saints Parish in Coquitlam, B.C., where a sold out benefit dinner gathering over 200 Iraqi-Canadians and Catholics from across Vancouver was about to take place.  Since the fall, a dedicated group of local Iraqis along with the Knights of Columbus worked diligently to organize this event aimed at bringing awareness about the crisis in Iraq that has displaced 2.5 million Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities this past year, and raising funds for aid. 

This winter, I began an internship with Development and Peace.

What an exciting opportunity it has been for me to apply my studies outside of the classroom! Even more exciting, is that through this internship, I am able to work towards building a world of justice, which is one my passions!

From March 13th to the 17th, the Diocese of Hamilton was blessed to have a Solidarity Visitor, Fr. Alberto Franco, CSsR, from Columbia.

Fr. Franco is the Executive Secretary of Development and Peace’s partner, the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace (CIJP). He has been an ardent defender of human rights for over 20 years and has been accompanying Afro-Colombians, indigenous peoples and peasant farmers in defending and reclaiming their lands.

It was exciting to learn that British Columbia would have the honour of hosting Fr. Edwin Gariguez as this year’s Solidarity Visitor. Fr. Edwin is the Executive Secretary of Caritas Philippines-NASSA. He has been playing an important role in bringing about humanitarian aid in the Philippines to those who have been displaced by Typhoons Haiyan and Hagupit, and addressing issues of injustice in the Philippines that perpetuate poverty.