Franciscans International appoint new director

Sister Denise Boyle, FMDM has been appointed as new Executive Director Franciscans International's. Sr Denise will assume her role on 1 March, 2008. Sr Denise is an Irish Franciscan religious sister and human rights advocate, who brings with her 30 years of experience in education, social justice, and development. In Zimbabwe, Sr Denise spent eight years as the National Coordinator of the Women and Children's Programme of the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace. When the nation was ravaged by drought, she organised an emergency feeding programme that brought relief to 11,000 children. In Australia, where she spent 15 years as an educator, Sr Denise was passionate about the role of education in promoting social justice. As the Overseas Project Officer at the Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM); Sr. Denise developed and implemented the training program for 53 volunteers in Africa and Guatemala. She visited the volunteers in their projects regularly. Since 2003, Sr Denise has served as the Justice Coordinator for the St Patrick Missionary Priests in Ireland. She has been collaborating with faith-based groups and NGOs; raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, human trafficking and development issues in 19 countries across Europe, Africa and South America. She is Chair of the national Irish committee, ACT - Act to Prevent Trafficking. Sr Denise holds an MA degree in International Peace and Development Studies from the University of Limerick; a BD in Theology and Pastoral Counselling from the University of Melbourne; and a BEd from the University of London. Through her human rights advocacy, Sr Denise has exemplified Franciscan values of peace building, justice, care for creation, and service to the poor. Her commitment to the vision and mission of Franciscans International is evidenced by her service on the organisation's International Board of Directors. She was the President of the Board from 2003 to 2006, and has most recently been fulfilling the role of Vice President. As Franciscans International's Executive Director, Sr Denise will serve the global Franciscan Family in its work for a more just and compassionate world. She will lead Franciscans International's advocacy, animation and fundraising efforts at the offices in Bangkok, Geneva and New York. Franciscans International, an NGO with general consultative status at the United Nations, has been advocating on behalf of the worlds poor and vulnerable for 25 years. By bringing grassroots Franciscan voices to the UN, Franciscans International engages international policy makers for the work of justice, peace, the care of creation, and the promotion of human rights. Source: FI