Fr. Shay Cullen

Father Shay Cullen, nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, is a Missionary priest from Ireland and a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban and has worked protecting women and children and human rights in the Philippines since 1969.

Father Cullen established Preda Foundation in Olongapo city, the Philippines in 1974 to promote human rights, justice and peace. Believing that poverty, violence and child abuse are barriers to peace and give rise to tyrants and torturers. He strives to eliminate child abuse and promote respect for children's rights. He works for peace by striving to change the unjust economic political and social structures and attitudes that allow such abuse. His mission for justice and peace is ecumenical and is based on taking a stand for human rights and protecting the dignity of every person, in particular exploited women and children.

He has received several human rights awards and has testified before the US Congress, The Philippine Senate and is a well known speaker and facilitator at numerous other international conferences.

Fr. Cullen is the author of Passion and Power an autobiography and writes a weekly column in The Manila Times that are published in other newspapers and on-line.

He speaks fluent Filipino. He began Preda Fair Trade, in 1975, a successful poverty alleviation manufacturing and export project that lifts the poor to a life of dignity. The processing and export of Preda dried mango helps thousands of farmers. He oversees twelve major projects at the Foundation including environmental protection and tree planting. With a present professional staff of 72 the projects are expanding.

website : www.preda.org
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