Peace Gala to celebrate the life of RRU professor
For immediate release – Oct. 17, 2007
Victoria, B.C. – Dr. Paz Buttedahl’s lifelong dream of an international network of peacebuilders is being realized through her Blueprint for Peace initiative. This groundbreaking, student-focused project brings together peace scholars from Royal Roads University and the University of Makerere in Kampala, Uganda for three weeks to learn together and provide insights into rebuilding civil society in places rebounding from significant conflict or trauma.
Buttedahl, who founded and led the Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding (MAHSP) program at Royal Roads University, passed away at a Victoria hospice on October 8 of this year as students were putting together the finishing touches on the gala fundraiser aimed at supporting the 2008 Blueprint for Peace project.
A month before she passed away, Buttedahl spoke passionately about the peacebuilding program to a gathering of Rotarians in Victoria.
“Blueprint for Peace is the crown jewel of our program,” she said. “I am so proud of the students for founding and continuing to build this unique organization, which not only helps Ugandans living in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps to rebuild their communities, but just as importantly, fuels learning for future peacebuilders. By engaging in participatory development at a grass-roots level, our learners are becoming living beacons of hope in a world that needs a great deal of healing.”
The 2007 Human Security and Peacebuilding Cohort is a diverse group of 27 students from around the world. Among the Victoria residents, you’ll find a Canadian Military Reserve medic, a Rwandan humanitarian aid worker, a medical doctor from Colombia and a social services advocate.
“My story is about overcoming incredible obstacles to help achieve peace in my country,” says Evelyne Batamuliza, a Rwandan student and a humanitarian aid worker. Born in a refugee camp and now living in Victoria, Batamuliza was involved in facilitating a Blueprint for Peace residency in Rwanda last year. This year she plans to participate as a student herself. “Seeing the desire for peace cutting across cultural divides is inspiring to me.”
Isabel Cristina Castro, 39, a medical doctor and civil engineer from Colombia, came to Victoria to participate in this program. “To be part of this program means I can take valuable skills back to my country and help rebuild people’s lives and communities in Colombia.” Castro works for the Colombian government’s health department and has had her eye on this program ever since it first launched in 2003.
Peggy Mahoney, manager of the NEED Crisis Lines in Victoria and a former executive director of the Mary Manning Centre is another Victoria-based learner in the peacebuilding program. “It is an amazing group who have come together from all over the world to take our community development skills to the international level.”
The 2007 MAHSP Cohort is hosting the ShowPeace Gala in support of Blueprint for Peace Friday, Nov. 9 at The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa.
More information and tickets are available for purchase online:
