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><em>In Syria, the people want peace, and ask themselves who wants war and continues to supply weapons instead of food and medicine. Here is the testimony of someone who lives with the war and still hopes.</em></p> <p><strong>"While the mortar shells are falling near us, fear and worry assail us </strong>both for our lives and for the lives of those we know, Christians or Muslims, Syrians or foreigners: our common bond is our humanity, our being brothers and sisters. On the streets of Damascus we live and die together, without distinction.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>"I wish one day people will remember Afghanistan not for war but for its standards of education"</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Aqeela Asifi is an Afghan refugee living in Pakistan whose tireless efforts to help girl refugees access education have made her a true symbol of triumph over adversity. As well as offering displaced girls a pathway out of poverty, the school that Asifi created in Kot Chandana refugee village also gives pupils the opportunity to build a new future when they return to Afghanistan.</p>
<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>
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Every year, from May 1st to 7th, the United World Project support, together with the Focolare Movement and Youth for a United World (Y4UW), the United World Week, a global action where many people promote events and initiatives worldwide to foster dialogue, unity, and peace.
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Here’s the key: knowing that we do not know. No one possesses the absolute Truth, and by engaging in dialogue with everyone we can grasp aspects or fragments of truth that help us reassemble a shattered vase that we can restore only if we are “together”.
Economy & Work
Anna Granata, professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca, reminds us that teaching peace is not an abstract utopia. It is something that happens every day in Italian classrooms among children with diverse stories, languages, and backgrounds.
Art & Social Commitment
Celebrated Marvel and DC artist Gabriele Dell’Otto invites us to consider the people who are working to build peace as the real superheroes of our world. A profound discussion on responsibility, citizenship, and the challenge of doing the extraordinary in our everyday lives.
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