Dominique Pire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominique Pire
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Pire in 1958
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| Born |
Georges Charles Clement Ghislain Pire
10 February 1910 Dinant, Belgium
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| Died | 30 January 1969 (aged 58) Leuven, Belgium
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| Nationality | Belgian |
| Alma mater | Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) (1934–1936), Catholic University of Leuven (1936–1937) |
Dominique Pire (born Georges Charles Clement Ghislain Pire) was a kind Belgian man who became a friar. He was born on February 10, 1910, and passed away on January 30, 1969.
After World War II, he worked hard to help people who had lost their homes. These people were called refugees. His important work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958. When he received the prize, he gave a speech called Brotherly Love: Foundation of Peace.
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Early Life
Dominique Pire was born in a town called Dinant in Belgium. He was the oldest of four children. His father, Georges Pire Sr., worked for the city.
When the First World War started in 1914, his family had to leave their home. They fled from Belgium to France in a boat. They were escaping from German soldiers. After the war ended in 1918, his family could go back to Dinant. Sadly, their town was in ruins.
His Education
Pire studied important subjects like Classics and Philosophy. He went to the Collège de Bellevue. When he was 18, he joined the Dominican priory in La Sarte, a religious community in Huy.
He made his final promises to the Order on September 23, 1932. This is when he chose the name Dominique. He chose it after the person who started the Dominican Order.
He then studied theology and social science in Rome. He earned a special degree in theology in 1936. After his studies, he went back to La Sarte. There, he taught about how societies work.
His Work
After finishing his education, Pire returned to the priory in Huy, Belgium. He wanted to help poor families live with dignity.
During World War II, Pire helped the Belgian resistance. This was a group of people secretly fighting against the enemy. He helped Allied pilots escape the country. After the war, he received several medals for his brave service.
Helping Refugees
In 1949, Dominique Pire started to focus on helping refugees. These were people who had been forced to leave their homes after the war. He wrote a book about them.
He also started an organization to help these people. This group found sponsors for refugee families. Sponsors are people who help support others. In the 1950s, his organization built villages in Austria and Germany. These villages gave homes to many refugees.
Dominique Pire was a Dominican friar. But he always kept his religious beliefs separate from his work helping people in need. This decision was not always easy for his religious leaders to understand.
Working for Peace
After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Pire helped create a "Peace University." This university aimed to help people around the world understand each other better.
Later, he believed that true peace could not happen if people were still living in extreme poverty. So, he started "Islands of Peace." This group helps people in developing countries. They work on long-term projects to improve life in rural areas. Projects were started in countries like Bangladesh and India.
His Legacy
Dominique Pire passed away on January 30, 1969, in Leuven, Belgium. He was 58 years old. He died from problems after a surgery.
Even more than 30 years after his death, the four organizations he started are still active. In 2008, a special program was created to honor his work. It was at the Las Casas Institute at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford.
Organizations He Founded
- Service d'Entraide Familiale: This group helps people who are having a hard time get back on their feet.
- Aide aux Personnes Déplacées: This organization helps refugees in Belgium. It also helps sponsor children in developing countries.
- Université de Paix: This group teaches people how to prevent arguments and conflicts. They focus on families and workplaces.
- Islands of Peace: This organization works on long-term projects to help people in rural areas. They have projects in countries like Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru.
See also
In Spanish: Dominique Pire para niños
