Kamloops Citizens who have made an outstanding contribution to peace are recognized by the Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA during Peace Week

2007 YMCA Peace Medallion recipients are the CanGo Grannies, Developing World Connections and Kids Helping Kids

The Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA, together with YMCA associations across Canada, is marking YMCA World Peace Week held November 17-24, 2007 by encouraging kids, youth and adults to create peace by living it every day with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.
This year, three home-grown Kamloops organizations will be recognized by the Kamloops YMCA-YWCA for their tremendous work and dedication to making our community and the world more peaceful. They will each be awarded a YMCA Peace Medallion, an award which some 900 individuals and groups across Canada have received since its inception 20 years ago.
“The Peace Medallion recipients have led the way in showing how any one of us has the ability or power to create positive social change without special resources. They are a tremendous inspiration and role model for improving the quality of life in a community, either at home or overseas,” says Colin Reid, CEO, Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA.

The CanGo Grannies began as a group of Kamloops grandmothers inspired by the plight of grandmothers in Africa who raise many grandchildren left orphaned by the AIDs epidemic.  Since then, they have raised $63,000 and sent this contribution to help African grandmothers through the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Most recently, the CanGo Grannies have stitched together the signatures of 200 influential Canadians on a Great Canadian Quilt which is now on tour across Canada to raise awareness about the impact of AIDs in Africa.

Developing World Connections is a non-profit organization founded by a group of Kamloops Rotary members. It facilitates meaningful volunteer experiences in developing countries through participation in hands-on community-based projects. Since it began in 2004, Developing World Connections has assisted over 400 volunteers to participate in such projects as rebuilding a Sri Lankan community devastated by the 2004 tsunami and  constructing a community centre for people with HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. In 2008, DWC Volunteer Guatemala will be the first group of high school-aged volunteers to participate. DWC Volunteer Guatemala is made up of a group of committed young people from South Kamloops Secondary.

Two years ago, students at Brocklehurst Secondary and South Kamloops Secondary teamed up to create Kids Helping Kids and fundraise for educating children overseas. Kids Helping Kids organized flea markets, dances, school fairs and recycling drives to achieve their goal of raising $10,000 to build a school in Sierra Leone, Africa.

Each recipient organization will receive the YMCA 2007 Peace Medallion during a public ceremony held during YMCA Peace Week. These events are open to the public and are listed below.

Monday, November 19, 10:00 am: The CanGo Grannies receive the Peace Medallion in the Station Plaza meeting room, 490 Lorne Street, ground floor.

Monday, November 19, 7:00 pm: Kids Helping Kids will be recognized at the School Board 73 District Meeting. DWC Volunteer Guatemala participants will receive a special recognition. Both groups are recognized for thier commitment to extensive projects, raising awareness of global issues, and reminding the local community of the vial role youth want to play in our global community. 

Tuesday, November 20, 5:00 pm: Developing World Connections will receive a Peace Medallion at their alumni event to be held in their offices at #220 – 141 Victoria Street. DWC Volunteer Guatemala will also be recognized at this time.