Development and Peace wins award

Catholic New Times, June 29, 2003

TORONTO -- The Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) has awarded its 2003 International Co-operation Prize for sustainable development to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP). The award honours CCODP for the reconstruction program it undertook in Central America following the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in October 1998.

Canadians, and Canadian Catholics in particular, donated $11 million to Development and Peace to support reconstruction efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The CCIC praised Development and Peace and 20 of its partner groups in the region for the exemplary manner in which the four-year-long program was conceived and administered.

The award was presented to CCODP President Roger Dubois on May 23, 2003 at the CCIC's annual general assembly, held this year in Aylmer, Que.

Hurricane Mitch was one of the worst storms ever to hit Central America. Thousands of people were killed or injured; many more lost their homes; crops were destroyed and drinking water was contaminated. The devastation was widespread and unparalleled.

The appeal for aid that Development and Peace launched touched a chord with Canadians. Donations were used to fund 40 projects affecting 300,000 people in 1,400 communities.