Jim McCallum has worked tirelessly to advocate and fundraise on behalf of children in Honduras for nearly 30 years. A resident of Peterborough, Dr. McCallum is the founder of Friends of Honduran Children, and has been chosen for his ongoing volunteer work and lifetime commitment to grassroots community development. Dr. McCallum, an oral surgeon by profession, first travelled to Honduras with a medical brigade in 1979. What began as a trip to perform dental work in rural areas of Honduras has turned into a lifetime commitment to Honduran children and families. In 1992 he founded Friends of Honduran Children. In addition to sending medical brigades, the organisation provides education and scholarships for children, supports a community development for single mothers and their children where they have access to housing, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, and runs a farm where young boys forced to migrate to the city receive shelter, education, and basic care.
Southern partner recipient: Organization of Mothers Teachers, Panama
2006
Raul Gatica is a champion for human rights, especially for indigenous rights among his native community, the Nuu Savi (Mixteco) people of Oaxaca in Southern Mexico. Born in San Miguel Tlaxiaco, Mexico, but living in Canada since 2005 as a political refugee, Mr. Gatica was a founding member of numerous Indigenous-rights organizations in Mexico, and has been chosen for his ongoing volunteer and lifetime commitment to social justice and grass-roots community organizing. With an absolute commitment to non-violence and having witnessed the murders of friends and colleagues, Mr. Gatica is an example of resilience and hope for a better future for Mexico’s indigenous peoples, who continue to face violence and extreme marginalization.
Southern partner recipient: Humanitas Association, Costa Rica
2005
Kathryn Anderson, a human rights activist and adult educator for over 20 years, has been a key volunteer in the Guatemala Solidarity movement in Canada. She is the co-founder of Breaking the Silence Network, a group committed to solidarity work and dedicated to promoting human rights advocacy between peoples in Canada and Guatemala. Working out of the Tatamagouche Centre in Nova Scotia, Kathryn has demonstrated her leadership and volunteer spirit by motivating others to be active in social justice work, and continuing to build alliances between people and organizations North-South.
Southern partner recipient: Oscar Arnulfo Romero Community Centre (CCOAR), Nicaragua
2004
Sheila Turnbull was the first person to receive the David Stewart Medal. She has been a volunteer at Bridge Street United Church in Belleville for over 10 years. Amongst her many accomplishments, Sheila was instrumental in establishing a volunteer food cooperative in the Church whose mandate is to help low-income families. At the same time, she actively engages in twice-monthly community dinners and supports Bridge Street Church’s 6-week “Inn from the Cold” Program. Sheila runs regular workshops to teach cooking, knitting, and other living skills. During her years as a volunteer, she has provided legal advocacy, shelter and support to people that need access to government assistance programs. Overall, Shelia is considered to be a spokesperson for those who live in poverty, and local newspapers and politicians often seek her reactions and insights.
Southern partner recipient: Honduran Centre for Women’s Studies (CEM-H), Honduras
