Columban Missionary, Fr Shay Cullen and the PREDA Foundation (People's Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance) in the Philippines have been chosen to receive the Shalom Award for Justice and Peace at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany. The prize has been awarded since 1982 to extraordinary commitment in the field of peace and human rights. Fr Shay has worked for justice and peace in the Philippines since 1969.
The Prize is awarded for the work of 54 staff, social workers, therapists, administrators and public educators in defending human rights and the work for peace. The PREDA Foundation is active in caring for the rescue of abused children from jails, abusers and brothels and giving the victims of abuse a safe home with protection, education, values formation, affirmation, empowerment and healing therapy and restoring the self-esteem of the victims of abuse and violence.
The Foundation also takes legal action against child abusers and campaigns for the rights of the child through main stream media and the social media.
PREDA believes that many acts of violence, conflict, war, begins with individuals who have been victimized as children. They may have been victims of violence in words, punishment, by rejection, been unwanted and/or physical or sexually abused. Some of these young people carry the urge and tendency to violence and anger-release buried within their psyche.
Later in life a few may vent their buried anger or misunderstandings or false perceptions of reality on society, family or community. Some can create a cycle of violence designed to overpower others and they express feelings of revenge and vengeance. This is the effect of childhood violence and neglect.
The healing process at the PREDA Foundation is through dialogue, positive relationships and community education through participation. The PREDA Foundation strives to create a community that listens and learns from victims and gives support and encouragement and healing to victims of violence and abuse.
The prize will be awarded on May 4, 2017 in Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany.
Columban Fr Shay Cullen, founder of PREDA, has spent more than 40 years in the Philippines.
