Guest Info
Shay Cullen was born in Glasthule, Dublin, Ireland, on 27 March 1943. He was educated at Presentation College, Glasthule, Co. Dublin, and later at St. Columban’s, Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland, where he became an ordained Catholic Missionary Priest in April 1969. A member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, he arrived in the Philippines in September 1969.
In 1974, he founded the People’s Recovery Empowerment Development Assistance (PREDA) Foundation, serving as its President, and has been actively involved in work within the Philippines since 1969. Additionally, he established the Fair-trade organisation, now known as Profairtrade Development Enterprise, to support indigenous people and small farmers.
Shay has participated in various international events, including the INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM on Pastoral Care of the Road/Street at the Vatican, where he contributed to the Plan Of Action. He also addressed the German Bundestag Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development in 2014 and testified before the US Congress Committee on human rights in April 2016. Known as an influential international speaker and advocate, Shay Cullen campaigns passionately on social and human rights issues.
About the Show
The picturesque Philippine islands have long been a home for over 50,000 global Indians, lured by their enchanting culture, tropical ambience, and open-mindedness. Yet, beneath the surface of beauty and warmth lies a troubling reality largely unknown to many.
Among the nation’s allures, the Philippines grapples with a distressing issue that has garnered global attention – child abuse. With the advent of the internet, the country has unwittingly become a hub for illicit trade involving the exploitation of children. Rajan Nazran gives us a glimpse of this dark side of the Philippines in this episode, shedding light on its challenges and highlighting the remarkable work of Father Shay Cullen and the PREDA Foundation.
During the conversation, Father Cullen brings to light the grave concern of child abuse, a scourge affecting communities worldwide. Regrettably, the Philippines has become an alluring destination for those involved in the illicit trade of child exploitation materials. The internet serves as a gateway for explicit content, facilitating the exploitation of vulnerable children by unscrupulous perpetrators.
Amidst this darkness, courageous individuals are devoting their lives to combat child abuse in the Philippines. Shay Cullen, an activist and founder of the PREDA Foundation, stands at the forefront, confronting child abuse and challenging the US military over allegations of paedophilia.
Father Cullen sheds further light on the unsettling reality of death squads operating with impunity in the Philippines. These squads target individuals who vocalise against human rights abuses, including child exploitation. Such death squads raise concerns about the safety and security of activists tirelessly striving to protect the rights of vulnerable children.
The PREDA Foundation, helmed by Shay Cullen, plays a pivotal role in the fight against child abuse. It raises awareness about child exploitation and advocates for stronger legislation safeguarding children’s rights. Tune into this insightful podcast now!
Through this episode, Rajan aims to raise awareness about the troubling issue of child abuse in the Philippines and celebrate the tireless efforts of activists like Father Shay Cullen and organisations like PREDA, who endeavour to create a safer and brighter future for the nation’s children.
Produced by Global Indian Series for the Global Indian Network.
Script by Rajan Nazran
original idea: Rajan Nazran
Introduction music: (https://freesound.org/people/SilverIllusionist)
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