Michael Lapsley Award

On behalf of the entire Board of Arm In Arm In Africa, I am delighted and honored to announce a recent International Peace Award. Fr. Michael Lapsley, an Anglican priest and anti-apartheid activist has recently been named to receive the 2022 Niwano Peace Prize. My brother and colleague will receive the award in Tokyo on June 14th, 2022. Many of our delegates that have traveled to South Africa will remember Fr. MIchael and his work at the Institute for the Healing of Memories. The mission of the Institute has been to continue the work of healing and reconciliation, both in South Africa, and around the world community. Arm In Arm In Africa have been honored to share a partnership with Fr. Michael and to support their ongoing efforts for social justice for many years. The Niwano Peace Prize is an honor that is bestowed to those who have "contributed significantly to interreligious cooperation that furthers world peace."

“Everyone has a story to tell and each story must be heard, recognised and respected,” Fr Michael loves to repeat. “This is the first step towards healing both at a personal and interpersonal level.”

I want to personally congratulate Fr. Michael for this well deserved acknowledgement of his life choice to be of service to others. We are all familiar with the Robert Frost poem entitled "The Road Not Taken." The poet speaks metaphorically of the 'two roads that diverge in a yellow wood." Both paths look exactly the same, both are equally worn and it is impossible to see where either path leads. No indication that one path is preferable to the other. The poem ends famously, "Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled and that has made all the difference." Thank you Michael for the difficult and sacred choices that have kept you rooted in the pursuit of peace and justice. I and countless others are honored to share the path.

James Cassidy, President AIAIA