Greetings

As the OA which many of us have been preparing for is approaching, I cannot help but experience rich mixed emotions and feelings; enthusiasm, determination, eagerness, yet all accompanied with anxiety and tormenting self pressure to remain up to my responsibilities as a delegate.

Foremost, I would like to thank the Alberta/Mackenzie-Fort Smith team one more time as they put their trust in me to be in this position and for their much appreciated help in my preparation the upcoming OA.

Je ne peux que m’impatienter à l’idée de rencontrer tous les participants qui prendront part à l’Assemblée d’Orientation. Je suis convaincue que l’on apportera tous des perspectives et des idées variées qui dans l’ensemble ne feront qu’éblouir tout le processus ainsi que le travail que Paix et Développement entretient ici au Canada et dans le monde entier.

Although I anticipate heated debates, I feel that this is a necessary process in a democratic organization such as Development and Peace and I am confident that all will be settled in a democratic and fair manner as well. Much will have to be decided upon but let’s all remember that the direction we aim to take is one of justice, love and peace for the whole of humanity. Whatever it takes, whatever needs to be sacrificed, let’s make the right choices.

Blessings!

Divine

Pictures from Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith Regional Meeting - 2

Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith Regional Meeting

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Pictures from Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith Regional Meeting - 1

Pictures of the Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith Regional Meeting April 9 - 11, 2010

Lys-Divine Ndemeye

My name is Lys-Divine Ndemeye and I am originally from Burundi. When I was 10, I moved to Niger and 6 years later, in 2006, I came to Edmonton for school. I am now in my second year at the University of Alberta, majoring in Political Science.

I first heard of Development and Peace in one of my Political Science classes through which there was a Community Service Learning (CSL) component. I was the only student who decided to live the CSL experience with Development and Peace. It had a huge impact on me and I lived a great experience; taking part in a Fall Campaign Workshop and working on a Youth Project with Julio Garcia. I then decided to continue volunteering and take a more active role in the movement. I highly value and respect the work that Development and Peace does and most especially its approach of partnership.

I have been actively involved in our Edmonton Diocese and I have been privileged to be accepted as one of the Executive Council Members as the Chair of Education. At this year’s Regional meeting, I have been blessed one more time with another significant position; Delegate for Alberta to the Alternative Orientation Assembly.

I look forward to meeting all the other delegates and I would like to wish all the best to those still preparing for their Regional meetings.

Divine

Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith Regional Annual Meeting

Hello Development and Peace members across Canada!

The membership of Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith is holding our Regional Meeting in Calgary, Alberta from April 9 to 11, 2010. We have been discussing a great number of issues regarding the future of Development and Peace and all the members are very excited and very engaged in the process. We started on Friday evening doing a quick recap of the past 4 decades of Development and Peace work in Canada and the Global South, which helped us set the framework of our analysis for Saturday.

As we face a number of challenges in our near future the Alberta/MacKenzie-Fort Smith members are hopeful of the road we must walk together with our partners. We have discussed in great detail the role of Development and Peace in the Church and in Canada and are excited about the opportunities to forge new ground with our endeavours.

We strongly affirm our desire to continue working and strengthening our advocacy efforts. We can not avoid our responsibility to defend Catholic Social Teaching and the Churches preferential option for the poor. These fundamentals define the authenticity of our relationships with others, be they with partners, clergy, or the Government of Canada.

We have appreciated the participation and words of encouragement of Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary. We have also had the opportunity to share in great detail with Gilio Brunelli, the Director of the International Programs Department of Development and Peace.

We 25 members meeting in Calgary this weekend are streaming our hopes and positive energy to all of you across Canada and wish you the very best with your Regional Meetings.

Peace!

First Regional Meeting in Alberta

The Regional Meetings start today, in Alberta, and will continue on around the country until May 17th. Around 500 members will take part in the discussions on Development and Peace’s next strategic plan. We hope to hear from them in this blog.

Alberta: première assemblée régionale

La toute première assemblée régionale de la saison 2010 débute aujourd'hui même, en Alberta. De telles assemblées se poursuivront partout au pays d’ici le 17 mai. Quelque 500 membres de notre organisme discuteront du prochain plan de Développement et Paix. Ce blogue veut rendre compte de leurs délibérations.