Origins and History

In 1991, high school principal and Brasilian priest Bob Holmes gathered a group of students and teachers together to form the first One World group. They found themselves an old school bus, outfitted it with a little kitchen, bathroom and sleeping space for 16 people and ventured south from British Columbia to Mexico where they lived with families and encountered some of the realities of a developing nation not far from Canadian borders.They called it “One World” because they wanted to explore the interconnectedness of their lives with those of developing nations. The summer Mexico program has become a yearly event.

Some participants from the first Mexico excursion conceived of a wider-ranging program which would provide opportunities for Canadians to experience life in developing countries for six months at a time. In 1992-93, a pilot program was undertaken in the West African Sahel, financed by fundraising projects and grants from the Basilian Fathers. The pilot was successful, and important contacts with West African partners were made. This program has run continuously every year since.

A pilot program in Central America was launched in 1994-95 with the group traveling on the One World bus through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras on the way to immersion living and solidarity work in Nicaragua. The groups now fly to Central America. India was chosen for a pilot program in 1996-97, the group living and working among the Tamil people in and around Bangalore in Southern India.

During its first years the One World Global Education Program was directed by Fr. Bob Holmes. Responsibility for the program now rests with a Collective of persons committed to the One World philosophy of immersion/solidarity learning.