Stories from around the globe show how a united world is already in motion. This platform highlights experiences, initiatives, and projects from people and communities working for unity and peace. Explore what’s happening and get inspired.
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>The first steps of Up2me, a global educational project that was requested by parents and youth leaders, to help children during their growing years; with support from Sophia University Institute.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The launching of this innovative project took place recently with the first <strong>“train the tutor course”</strong>. The course gathered a hundred people at the Focolare town of <a href="http://www.loppiano.it/" target="_blank">Loppiano</a>, Italy from a variety of fields: teachers, psychologists, medical doctors and youth directors from eight European countries, Brazil, Argentina, India, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>The title and theme of the recent European Assembly for Religions and Peace couldn't have been more in harmony with the events Europe is facing today.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>At a distance of eight years since the last European Assembly</strong>, held in Italy on that occasion as well, representatives from different faiths and religious traditions present in Europe met for several days (Castel Gandolfo, 28-31 October) to discuss about fear: fear of differences, fear of the other, and fear of foreigners, which are current sentiments today especially after the recent tragic events in Paris and that lead to Islam-phobia and Christian-phobia. In the face of such events we have to take the great opportunities that open out at continental level, especially for the young generations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Condolences from the director of the Tevere Centre for Dialogue in Rome, Italy, Mustafa Cenap Aydin in the face of the Paris attacks: responding to the “inhuman” attacks by reinforcing a spirit of unity and brotherhood.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><strong>“The tragic news</strong></strong> of the horrendous terrorist attacks in the French capital has filled us with profound sorrow. Our thoughts, solidarity and prayers go to the victims, the wounded and their families, to their loved ones and to the French people.” With these words of condolence, <strong><strong>Mustafa Cenap Aydin, director of the Tevere Centre for Dialogue in Rome</strong> </strong>expressed his dismay over recent terrorist attacks in France.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>In Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) 2,000 children launched their cry for peace. Martine, one of the educators, tells us about it</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>“</em>Just try to imagine 2,000 kids rapping in unison: “Peace! Peace!” </strong><em>War is death, peace is love. </em>And to think that all this has been happening for decades in a country torn apart by armed conflicts, the victims of which are mostly children. Now you don’t need to dream – Martine recounts – because all this really happened last 7 November in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>We are writing from Slovakia to tell you something of what we experienced the past weekend....</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">In Hungary, at the Austrian border, in recent weeks, many trains arrived with thousands of immigrants, who traveled on foot across the border and continued the journey in Austria. We realized that this was very close to the border with Slovakia and that some international and Slovak organizations had activated to bring food, clothes and medical care. So we joined this initiative with some gen, youth and adults.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>The new wave of violence has not stopped Pope Francis from asserting that he wishes to go to the Bangui capital to open the cathedral’s holy door for the experience of fraternity among families</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong></strong><strong>The escalation of </strong>serious <a href="http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2015/10/09/anche-la-repubblica-centro-africana-vedra-la-pace/">political-military uprisings</a> has not changed the programme of Pope Francis. An authentic messenger of peace, he announced in his sermon on All Saints Day that on 29 November he will be visiting that troubled country which has been experiencing one of the many war hotspots of the planet, for more than three years. The International Community seems to have ignored these fratricidal, forgotten wars.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Statement of Focolare president, Maria Voce, on the recent terrorist attacks in France.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong></strong><strong>“In the face of the dramatic events that took place in Paris,</strong> in addition to recent ones in many other areas of the world, we stand in mourning with those whose feelings have been wounded and with those who believe that the unity of the human family is possible.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dismayed and standing in firm condemnation of such acts against human life</strong>, there arises strongly a question: Have we taken every step and every action possible to build the necessary conditions, including encouraging equality, more solidarity, more communion of goods, that preclude violence and terrorist acts?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>President Magufuli -“Let's work together for peace and unity”</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">“I promise to be faithful to the promises I have made during the electoral campaign but we have to work together. Let’s do whatever it takes to guarantee peace and unity in this nation” - these were the first words of John Magufuli, victor of the elections and the next Tanzanian president, during a speech made public today at Dar es Salam.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Toshiko Tsuhako, from Okinowa, was 12 years old when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by nuclear attacks. The memory of the war continues to impel her to build peace in the world.</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong></strong><strong>“On August 22, 1944, I lost my only sister in the Tsushima maru naval disater.”</strong> The passenger ship was sunk by an American submarine. More than 1,400 civilians lost their lives, including 700 children. “Up until the day of her death at the age of 96, my mother continued to say: “The war ate her on me. . .” Mrs Toshiko Tsuhako spoke from the bottom of her heart as she recounted her story to us. Her city, on Okinowa Island, had been the theatre of the only land battle in Japan through the months of April, May and June 1945, leaving 150,000 dead.</p>
Dialogue & Interculture
New Humanity NGO presented the M.E.D.I.T.erraNEW project — co-financed by the Erasmus Plus Program — to the Youth Section of UNESCO in Paris.
Peace & Human Rights
Amid the rubble of Syria, art becomes an act of resistance. Discover the story of Aeham Ahmad, the “The Pianist of Yarmouk”, who defied the horror of war with the invincible beauty of his musical notes.
Operation Mato Grosso is working on over 100 missions across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, all rooted in education, hard work, and solidarity. Jacopo Manara, who has been a volunteer for years, tells us their story.
An interview on communication with Michele Zanzucchi, journalist and writer, former director of Città Nuova, professor of communication at Sophia University Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and author of around forty books.
EN
