Organization Profile: Development and Peace

by Fabian Musefano, SCPA Intern for Apathy is Boring — April 22, 2008

Development and Peace is a Catholic organization whose mission is to alleviate poverty in developing parts of the world such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As a church organization, it operates under the supervision of Catholic bishops. Its initiatives range from fighting poverty to promoting greater international justice. Its main offices in Canada are in Toronto and Montreal. Although Development and Peace does receive a large amount of funding from individual donors and supporters, The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is also one of its main financial sponsors.

The issues

D&P is also involved in complex issues such as peace-building, human rights, education, agricultural reform, community development, and economic justice.

How to get involved

D&P’s website and its youth page both provide a ton of useful information on how you can get involved. One of the most exciting things to do is join the youth group. When you join, you can learn more about issues affecting our world today, and discover and understand the causes and effects of social and economic problems. For instance, D&P youth delegates travel to poor countries to learn first-hand about the issues affecting our world. Another interactive feature of the site is the ability to sign online petitions and take a stand in changing the world for the better. For more information on how to get involved, you can either contact your local Catholic parish (most are aware of and contribute to D&P) or simply call or email the organization directly. All contact information is listed on the website. 

Interesting facts about Development and Peace

One of the fun things D&P youth members are involved with is the Street Theatre initiative. They get to dramatize social and economics struggles that many people face, which is an amazing way of taking a stand while having good time. D&P’s youth members also get to travel to other countries through the international exposure program. In 2005, D&P members from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario traveled to Guatemala in South America. On this trip, the youth delegation met with several indigenous communities, ex-guerilla combatants, and Canadian mining company officials. From listening to guerrilla fighters’ stories of struggle in the jungle to hearing the rationale of the mining companies activities despite resistance from the locals, these experiences give youth a unique opportunity to learn and get involved. The upcoming trips for this year are being planned, so check them out.

Source:Development and Peace