Fr Patrick Devine received the 2013 International Caring Award in Washington DC last week
Fr Patrick Devine, a native of Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, received the 2013 International Caring Award in Washington DC last week for creating enduring peace settlements in East Africa.
Fr Devine was recognised for over 20 years of conflict resolution and reconciliation work in Kenya through the Shalom Centre, which he established in 2009. The centre is inclusive of all faiths, works with individuals, groups and ethnic communities to examine the root causes of conflict using inter-ethnic education, peace building skills and problem solving workshops.
Fr Devine said he was happy to receive the award on behalf of all of the people creating enduring positive peace across Eastern Africa. “This award helps to highlight how conflict resolution can be achieved at a grass roots level by getting people to develop their own analytical skills and embrace social and economic development by understanding the fundamentals of what true peace and reconciliation are,” he said.
Organised by the Caring Institute, the Caring Awards were inspired by Mother Teresa and acknowledge individuals for their efforts to give back to society.