An Irish priest who is playing a central role in creating enduring peace settlements in East Africa received the 2013 International Caring Award in Washington DC today.
Fr Patrick Devine, a native of Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, received the award for his ongoing conflict resolution and reconciliation work in Kenya through the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR), which he established in 2009.
Previous recipients of the award include the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Senator George Mitchell and former US president, Jimmy Carter.
Fr Devine was presented with his award by Val Halamandaris, founder and executive director of the Caring Institute.
Fr Devine has spent more than 20 years in eastern Africa.
The SCCRR examines the root causes of conflict using inter-ethnic education, peace-building skills and problem solving workshops. It also constructs inter-ethnic schools that allow people from opposing groups to study together.