International Programs Director's message:
Here are some key points from his message:
In the five-year planning being done in line with our CIDA application, we are guiding not by trying to receive money, but to ensure continued support to our partners.
Our approach is to work with local people because they are the main actors in development and this key for sustainable development.
Our work aims to empower the poor. We want to create prosperity, and by this we mean a well-being that comes from human dignity and beyond meeting basic fundamental needs.
We are trying to address the structural issues that create poverty. For example, this means going beyond building schools, but showing that schools are properly funded by their governments, are teachers well-paid, etc.
The theme of environmental justice stems from our roots as a social justice organization. We don't aim to become an environmental organization, but to address environmental impacts on people, specifically the poor.
To achieve this we will work with labour groups, women's groups, community radio stations, human rights groups and environmental justice groups.
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This is such an encouraging message but there are hopes and prayers that CIDA will recognize the true sincere efforts Dev and Peace makes. I agree that funding is not always the major drive to change, but, it does help us to establish even education and discussion strategies and programs. The "grass-roots" groups are fundamental and necessary in working together, but our parishes, central core groups within the parishes need to know and be acknowledged as our starting point to promote, act upon and create hands-on examples of our capacities. Therefore the Archdiocese needs to help us facilitate the message of social justice - feed the poor, clothe the naked, give water to drink that is clear crisp and clean; and above all promote the all embracing love of doing this work. The conviction of good acts to perform - travelling to assess and alleviate; screening closely to prevent slander and hurt; and use the right tools of negotiation and discussion to build an organization on firm ground - are crucial. Use our Christian Catholic leaders to encourage and speak ongoing and continue to let them embrace world justices.
ReplyDeleteThis explanation is helpful vis-a-vis the environmental theme; it wasnss't so clear at our Regional meeting. If we focus on the impacts of ennvironmental crises, climate change, etc. on the poor, Development and Peace may be able to carve out a unique role for itself among the many organizations that focus on the environment.
ReplyDeleteGilio's message is important for Development and Peace. He is defing what is the true calling of our movement - work with the poor to bring about social change and work with Canadians to produce the conditions here that will make our country an agent of change.
ReplyDeleteAfter 43 years, the challenges remain the same.
Now the question becomes -what should we be doing to more effectively address these challenges?
I agree that there needs to be a fundemental shift to environmental justice, this is evident in all the comments our partners are making. I think we also need to focus more energy on engaging Canadians more actively in the question of how to bring about positive social change - there is a huge amount of work to do here.
Let's look at:
• programs that link partners to members like summer institutes and regular partner conferences.
• advertising campaigns that engage Canadians outside the Church - for example, I just saw a great ad by Right to Play just before the current World Cup game.
• let's see our logo on banners in Canadian streets. This happened years ago in Montreal - we need real brand recognition!
• let us recognize that education needs to work hand in hand with international programs - we need education partners whose main work is to help us educate Canadians - Equipo Maiz and CRIPDES come to mind
• make a commitment to become experts on social media - we can't just dabble in social media, we need to become experts in the use of communication technology.
Hope day two is great!
Paul McGuire