Post-tsunami reconstruction success: Joint Development and Peace and Canadian Catholic Bishops’ delegation visits Indonesia

Friday, February 16 2007

MONTREAL / February 16 – 2007 – A joint delegation of the Canadian Catholic Organization for DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will visit Indonesia to review the successful reconstruction programs that Development and Peace established in the wake of the December 2004 deadly tsunami.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE delegation members include: Hélène Trépanier (National President), Tom Hardjowirogo (member of the National Council and Chair of the Asia Program Committee), and Executive Director Michael Casey. The representatives of the CCCB are: the Archbishop of Sherbrooke, Most Reverend André Gaumond (President of the Conference), the Archbishop of Winnipeg, Most Reverend James Weisgerber (Vice-President), and General Secretary Monsignor Mario Paquette, P.H.

The six-member delegation will arrive in Jakarta on February 18, travel to Medan on February 21, and visit the hardest-hit area of Banda Aceh the following day. The delegation will return to Jakarta on February 26, and to Canada two days later.

“In the weeks following the devastating tsunami, we were able to respond most effectively to local needs by involving local community members in all aspects of the reconstruction process,” Michael Casey said. “DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE relied on its well-established relationship with key partner groups involved in long-term development projects to swiftly lay the groundwork for a reconstruction program.”

In the Banda Aceh area, the delegation will visit DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE’s largest-ever reconstruction project, from UPLINK (Urban Poor Linkage). “While some organizations are still trying to build temporary shelters to house displaced families, our partner – UPLKINK – has already built 3,000 homes and 800 more are under construction,” explained Development and Peace program officer André Charlebois.

Delegation members will be available for media interviews while in Indonesia and upon their return to Canada. For further information, please see contacts below or visit www.devp.org.
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DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, a network of 162 autonomous, Catholic, emergency relief, development and social service organizations working in 200 countries and territories. Last year, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE provided $40.3 million to support 294 long-term development projects and 58 emergency relief projects in the Global South.

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CONTACT:
IN INDONESIA (Feb. 17 to 28, 2007)
Philippe Doucet
philippe.doucet@devp.org

MONTREAL:
Patricia Poirier
514-295-9364
comm-eng@devp.org

OTTAWA:
Sylvain Salvas – CCCB
613-241-9461, ext. 225
salvas@cecc.ca