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>May 10th marks the anniversary of the encounter between the Bishop of Rome and the head of the Coptic Church, the largest Christian church in Egypt. Traveling the path towards visible unity. Some comments from Sherin, focolarina from the Coptic Church.</em></p> <p><strong>May 10, 2013. Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II meet </strong>at the Vatican to remember the historic appointment that took place 40 years ealier between their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, and their <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it/speeches/1973/may/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19730510_dichiarazione-comune.html" target="_blank">Common Declaration</a> on the one faith that is professed by churches with different traditions. During his remarks, Pope Francis stated: “I am convinced that – under the guidance of the Holy Spirit – our persevering prayer, our dialogue and the will to build communion day by day in mutual love will allow us to take important further steps towards full unity.”</p>
<p><em>Protests explode after the death of the 25-year-old Afro-American Freddie Gray while he was under arrest. The commitment of the Focolare community, together with other groups to pacify the city.</em></p> <p>“The events that came about have stirred up the support of the citizens. Many leaders, religious groups and civil organisations decided to work together to clean the streets and buildings and to help in various ways, revealing the positive side of the city, though deeply offended,» Lucia, Co-Director of the Focolare Movement wrote from Washington.</p> <p><strong>We all know about the people’s protests triggered in Baltimore last month</strong>, which are still ongoing, after the death of the 25-year-old Afro-American Freddie Gray while he was under arrest. Baltimore, the biggest city of Maryland with more than 600,000 inhabitants is a melting pot of ethnic groups, especially Afro-Americans.</p>
<p><em>An appeal has been launched by the "Movement for Politics & Policies for Unity" in the face of the humanitarian disaster taking place in the Mediterranean. The document points out the contradictions and shortcomings found within the 10-point plan elaborated by the EU and it proposes political initiatives that are more in tune with the needs at hand.</em></p> <p>The Movement for Politics & Policies for Unity raises its voice concerning the drama of migration towards Europe, a voice added to that of many associations and concerned people from around the world.</p> <p>They write: <strong>“The plan launched by the European emergency summit </strong>after yet another tragedy in the Sicilian Channel with its high death toll, expands the operational area of Triton and of Poseidon so that the increased number of ships, due to the tripling of funding, may push beyond the 30 miles from the coasts of the European shores. These actions remain within the context of Frontex whose logic is to defend Europe’s borders,<strong> and not a comprehensive migration policy.”</strong></p>
<p><em>Facing the absurds of war around the planet, we say stop! An appointment at noon of each day with a prayer or a moment of silence for peace.</em></p> <p>Sometimes we are overwhelmed by news of wars and terrorism, we feel helpless and dismayed by the pain of so many innocent victims.<br />Run4Unity, which united us in a great world relay, wants to promote a culture of peace and unity.</p> <p>We invite everyone to gather in prayer - or in silence - to obtain peace for every nation on the planet:</p>
<p><em>The workshop of the Youth for a United World moves into the social projects of the Focolare Movement and of other organizations working to answer the needs of the territory. Interreligious dialogue is the note of the day</em></p> <p>The day dedicated to the festival, inside the international workshop of the Youth for a United World, celebrates diversity as a bridge for dialogue. Those present are joined by Zain, a young Indian journalist, correspondent for Channel News Asia that having learned of this international workshop, decided to come in person to verify the work and the effects of it because "it's important that young people ask themselves how to be generators of dialogue."</p>
<p><em>Young people have dinner in the families of Coimbatore, between the shacks and in living conditions not always easy: worlds come together here to build real bridges of understanding and solidarity. A lot of literacy projects and assistance to sick young people<br /></em></p> <p>Today is the day of "Flavour". We start by sharing traditional Indian dishes and with food we share our experiences, valuing cultural differences as opportunities for intense sharing.</p> <p>Marilù, for example, tells us that, after being born and raised in Italy, she is in India for about 30 years. When she talks about her experience, her eyes shine in a particular way.
<p><em><span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Al via il terzo cantiere internazionale per i Giovani per un mondo unito dei Focolari a Mumbai, in occasione della Settimana mondo unito 2015. Si condivide la sospensione dei giovani nepalesi presenti all'incontro, che hanno visto dalle televisioni il loro Paese distrutto e le famiglie">The <a href="http://www.uww2015.com/index.php">third international workshop</a> of the Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement has been launched in Mumbai, at the United World Week 2015. We share the suspension of <span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Al via il terzo cantiere internazionale per i Giovani per un mondo unito dei Focolari a Mumbai, in occasione della Settimana mondo unito 2015. Si condivide la sospensione dei giovani nepalesi presenti all'incontro, che hanno visto dalle televisioni il loro Paese distrutto e le famiglie">Nepalis </span></span>young people attended the meeting, which saw on television their country destroyed and the families </span><span title="sfollate ">displaced</span></span></em></p> <p><strong></strong><span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title=""Fabric, Flavour, Festival... discovering fraternity", (Festival di tessuti e di sapori, alla scoperta della fraternità)."><strong>"Fabric, Flavour, Festival ... discovering fraternity"</strong>. </span><span title="È questo il titolo scelto, assieme ad una grafica accattivante, per la terza tappa del cantiere internazionale dei giovani dei Focolari inserito nello United World Project.">This is the title chosen, along with an attractive graphic, for the third step of the international workshop of the young people from the Focolare, inside the <strong>United World Project</strong>. The location of </span><span title="Sede del 2015 è l’India.">2015 is India. </span><span title="Sono oltre 120 i giovani presenti e 25 i Paesi rappresentati.">More than 120 young people present and 25 countries represented. </span><span title="Si va dal Giappone all'Italia, dalla Corea alla Colombia, dal Nepal alla Romania: un laboratorio mondiale che, nell'ambito della Settimana Mondo Unito, testimonia quanto le differenze culturali e religiose non siano un ostacolo nel dialogo tra i popoli, ma rappresentino">From Japan to Italy, from Korea to Colombia, from Nepal to Romania: a global laboratory that, as part of the <strong>United World Week</strong>, shows that cultural and religious differences are not an obstacle to dialogue between peoples, but act as a</span><span title="un trampolino di lancio per un mondo più unito e fraterno, come scritto proprio nel titolo. "> springboard for a more united and fraternal world, as written right in the title.</span></span></p>
<p><em>High-Level Thematic Debate on Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation, promoted by top members of the United Nations, gained momentum during a panel discussion, moderated by BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan: the role of religions in today’s world</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>What are the religions in today’s world? </strong>Many see them as obstacles to peace, the residue of ages past that today are the cause of violent extremism. What would the world really be more peaceful without the religions? The High-Level Thematic Debate on Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation suddenly became animated. The second day of the UN meeting offered some directives.</p>
<p><em>An exemplary measure in a country where acts of sexual violence are unfortunately common</em></p> <p>An ethnic armed group from Manipur, Northeast India, the Kuki National Organization (KNO), affirmed its policy to strictly prohibit and punish any act of sexual violence perpetrated by its members. It made its commitment concrete by signing Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment prohibiting sexual violence and against gender discrimination on 22 March 2015.
From Nairobi, at the heart of Africa—a continent of 54 rapidly growing nations, where people under 30 account for about 70% of the population—comes a comprehensive proposal for global engagement. It positions younger generations to lead transformative processes, guided by a humanistic, community-oriented vision grounded in reciprocity and shared responsibility.
Communication & Media
In a context where the media can easily be turned into weapons, peace journalism—rooted in the ideas of Johan Galtung—emerges as an essential practice. It does not overlook conflict; rather, it examines its underlying causes and highlights non-violent responses as a path toward building lasting "positive peace".
The story of the Med25 Bel Espoir’s journey around the Mediterranean between spring and autumn 2025. Among the stories shared is that of Carlos Palma, the founder of Living Peace, and Ikram, an ambassador for peace in Algeria.
Interview with Majdi Abdallah, a youth from Palestine travelling on the school ship of peace, Med25 Bel Espoir. An emotional story based on the dialogue in the Mediterranean, the relations and of hope born aboard.
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