Father Peter Walters – Street Kids of Columbia

At tonight’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw the guest speaker was Father Peter Walters who was on a six-day visit from his parish in Columbia.

Father Peter, who comes from Birmingham and is a member of the Stratford Upon Avon Rotary Club, was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1988 and, in 1995, became a Roman Catholic priest to further his work with the street children, in Medellin.

He became involved with the street-children in 1982 when they helped him after he became temporarily stranded in Colombia. Let the Children Live, founded in 1992, the UK based fund raising charity for Fundacion Vivan Los Ninos! In Columbia, the project, known as Funvini, works with 600 'disposable ones'.It is a charitable not-for-profit organisation and does not engage in political activity.

Father Peter said that they recognise that the phenomenon of the street-children is the product of complex social problems to which there are no easy answers. His aim is to support the Colombian people as they take the initiative in caring for the most disadvantaged of their children. He advised the members that his workers are making the most of their limited resources, but they need support from abroad for this work to continue and grow.

Because the children have no-one, they really belong to us all. Unless we help them, these children will remain ‘disposable ones’: throwaway kids with no future at all. “Let The Children Live” is a Christian charity and is strongly pro-life. He believes that no human being is ‘disposable’ and that every person is precious to God. Father Peter said they are concerned to ensure that each child is cared for as an individual, with his or her own special needs and can experience life ‘in all its fullness’. Thanks to the generosity of his supporters, the lives of many children have already been preserved and made worth living through the provision of love, care, education and training. 

“Let The Children Live” does not run its own projects directly but uses most of the funds it raises to support the works of Funvini.

Father Peter's talk was greatly appreciated by the members and guests present and he spent a long time answering the range of questions put to him. Past President John McGeary proposed the vote of thanks, advising members that, in his opinion, the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw might help Father Peter's charity.

The weekly bonus ball was won by Des Donnelly.

President James advised the Club that one of our members, Callan Dick, Past President of the Clyde Valley Rotary Club, had been awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship by Past District Governor Andy Ireland for his outstanding services to Rotary District 1020 in the field of I.T. support, both with Clubs and District Conferences.