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>Experience of Abraham, young Mexican<br /></em></p> <p>Hello, my name is Abraham and I come from Mexico, which is a country of noble people and great faith, a people with arms open to the world.</p> <p>Today we are livingin a difficult situation.The fight against drug trafficking began in 2006, a war that in eight years has killed more peoplethan the Vietnam War. All these people are not just criminals, sometimes they are innocent journalists, activists, and others.</p>
<p><em>World Refugee Day<br /></em></p> <p><em></em>"It is necessary to respond to the globalization of migration with the globalization of charity and cooperation, in such a way as to make the conditions of migrants more humane. At the same time, greater efforts are needed to guarantee the easing of conditions, often brought about by war or famine, which compel whole peoples to leave their native countries.</p>
<p><em><em>In the face of deforestation issues, Raimundo and Edilene, with other families were able to create in the heart of the Amazon forest, an area that preserves local biodiversity, in line with the <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="blank"><i>“Laudato Si” document</i></a>, the encyclical letter of Pope Francis on care for our common home.</em><br /></em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Raimundo is a hairdresser and Edilene, an anesthetist and public administration clerk. So to take interest in the environment </strong>is not exactly their line of expertise. But in the face of the environmental and cultural invasion they are undergoing, together with other families with whom they share Christian ideals, they started to pose some questions to themselves. What heritage would we be leaving to our children? How can we diffuse our vision to a society that seems to be unaware of this destruction? How can we go against the current?</p>
<p><em><em>Like every year, in early May the Youth for a United World all over the world have made a lot of activities and initiatives within the United World Week. Below you find the last fragments (others at these links: <a href="http://unitedworldproject.org/it/home/14-notizie/766-qualche-stralcio-dalla-settimana-mondo-unito-2015-nel-mondo.html">1</a> - <a href="http://unitedworldproject.org/it/home/14-notizie/770-qualche-altro-frammento-dalla-settimana-mondo-unito-2015.html">2</a> - <a href="en/home/10-news/776-other-fragments-from-the-united-world-week-2015.html">3</a></em> - <a href="en/home/10-news/783-going-on-with-other-fragments-from-the-united-world-week-2015.html">4</a>).</em></p> <p><strong>India.</strong> As we know, in Mumbai and Coimbatore there was the central event of UWW 2015. "Fabric, Flavour, Festival - Discovering fraternity", with more than 170 young people from 16 countries. Different cultures and pretty much all the great religions (Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists) and many languages, with the participation of the Rissho Kosei-kai from Japan and the great collaboration of the Shanti Ashram. From there we also launched a worldwide fundraising for Nepal. Photos at this <a href="http://www.uww2015.com/gallery.html?section=">link</a></p>
<p><em>Meeting people of other religions personally helps you understand their cultures and traditions and is the best remedy against prejudices. Here are three examples of how to dial up the interreligious dialogue in everyday life.</em></p> <p><strong>Coping with anti-Muslim sentiment</strong><br />Recently there was an incident in my school when a second grader drew a picture of an armored tank directed toward the school, and on it he wrote: “My plan to blow up the school.” There had also been several previous episodes when he talked about killing non-Muslims that were troubling for us in the school administration.<br /> Sam has been struggling with his own developmental issues, but complicating things for him were the summer he spent with his family in Palestine and the recent violence reported in the media, including the anti-Muslim backlash after the Charlie Hebdo murders in France.</p>
<p><em>A celebration of the three monotheistic religions in Egypt, that’s the main idea behind the Daraweesh Carnival, a festive and colourful event which took place on Friday, June 12 in the streets of Old Cairo.</em></p> <p>Participants had the opportunity to visit the Amr ibn al-‘As mosque, the Saint George Church, one of the oldest churches in the Egyptian capital, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue.</p> <p>The festival organisers’ aim is to promote mutual respect and understanding between Muslims, Christians and Jews, especially among the youth.</p>
<p><em>Like every year, in early May the Youth for a United World all over the world have made a lot of activities and initiatives within the United World Week. Below you find some other fragments (and others at these links: <a href="http://unitedworldproject.org/it/home/14-notizie/766-qualche-stralcio-dalla-settimana-mondo-unito-2015-nel-mondo.html">1</a> - <a href="http://unitedworldproject.org/it/home/14-notizie/770-qualche-altro-frammento-dalla-settimana-mondo-unito-2015.html">2</a> - <a href="en/home/10-news/776-other-fragments-from-the-united-world-week-2015.html">3</a>).</em></p> <p><strong>Loppiano, Italy.</strong> In 1500 people for the 42nd edition of the May 1st Youth Meeting at Loppiano, inside the United World Week 2015. "A network" to meet the challenges of multiculturalism, integration and violence. A big blue door and many keys were the symbols of this edition of May 1st in 2015 which carries the title "Outside - Look. Choose. Be." <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sif_loppiano/sets/72157652285364721/">look at the photos</a></p>
<p><em>In a parish in Córdoba (Argentina) a group of young people roll up their sleeves, spurred by the desire to put the Gospel into practice. Love for those in need stimulates their creativity.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>In 2011, three young people from a parish in the province of Córdoba (Argentina) were invited to a meeting in “Mariapolis Lia,”</strong> a small city of the Focolare Movement, 250 km from Buenos Aires. Participating at this meeting was a great experience for all three, a full immersion in the Gospel in action, an incentive to concretely give of themselves for others. “That meeting changed us,” says Susana. “We found that we were more enthusiastic, more welcoming, more trusting in God who we rediscovered is Love. It was a chance to grow as people but also as a group.” So much so that today there are about fifteen teens who are moving forward together with some very interesting initiatives. As an example, the “Clothing Fair,” a very useful idea for their region in which there are many families who live below the poverty line.</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.
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