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>Direct link-up with a teacher in a refugee camp inn Kurdistan, Iraq. Promoting projects for an emergency that is ongoing.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>“I live in Erbil, northern Iraq, where I began a school for Kurdish children in 2010,” </strong>says Malu Villafane, who born in the Philippines. For the past few years I have been working in a local sanctuary, organising activites and projects. Last August, the shrine was turned into a refugee camp. The cities of Sinjar and Mosul, along with adjacent villages like Qaraqush, Aaramlesh, Bartalla and others, had been invaded by ISIS. The inhabitants fled leaving everything behind, and they took refuge in Kurdistan, with us. There was a very heavy atmosphere in the camp, so much pessimism, children lost and abandoned. Together with the people in charge of the centre, we started up some activities for the teenagers and children, which also involved some of my colleagues from school.”</p>
<p><em>Interview with Congolese biologist Pierre Kabeza: «there are things we cannot understand or see clearly if not with eyes that have cried.» His commitment for his own people.</em></p> <p>The Democratic Republic of Congo: a big country with immense natural resources. A population of 72 million with hundreds of ethnic groups. The difficult relationships with the West, the war for the exploitation of minerals, the drama of a forgotten people.</p>
<p><em>United in the immense pain of the Christians and of many, we remember the victims of the attack in Lahore, and continue to pray unceasingly for the gift of peace. A testimonial from Pakistan.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>«Just after a few hours from the tragic event in Yohannabad (Lahore). We are safe</strong>, even if the news is sporadic. » The small community of the Focolare wrote us from Pakistan, to give us some news immediately after the two terrorist attacks against two Christian Churches, the Saint John Catholic Church and the Christ Church, where 15 persons died and many others were wounded. We are in Punjab, where the biggest Christian community of Pakistan lives. The attack of 15 March was the most serious attack against Christians after that 2013 in Peshawar.</p>
<p><em>Two Lebanese youth give a “live” report on their friends in Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. A story of suffering that opens out to new hope.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>«The two of us from Lebanon </strong>are grateful for this opportunity to speak before such a special assembly that wants to share the hopes and problems of the population, to transform them into laws at the service of man.» These were the opening lines of <strong>Lara Abou Moussa and George Zahm,</strong> who were among the 400 youth present on 12 March in the Italian Chamber of Deputies gathered in memory of Chiara Lubich. Lara is 25, a graduate in biochemistry and employed in a food control agency, and George is 22 and a marketing and advertising student.</p>
<p>From the 15th of March, it starts an international contest that will involve all the people around the world. The contest will end on 10th of May.</p> <p>It is very easy:</p>
<p><em>Chiara Lubich: unity and politics<br /></em></p> <p>March 12 , in the Hall of the Parliamentary Group of the Montecitorio Palace in Rome , was held the first round of the international program <a href="http://www.politicsforunity.com/" target="_blank">"Politics for Unity. Making a world of difference"</a>.</p> <p>The Speaker Laura Boldrini opened the proceedings of the meeting "<strong>Fraternità in cammino</strong>" which featured 350 young people from 42 countries that in the morning , through numerous testimonies and reflections , dialogued with professor Pasquale Ferrara, diplomat, and professor Luigino Bruni, economist and historian of economic thought.</p>
<p><em>UNHCR calls for more robust search-and-rescue operation on Mediterranean</em></p> <p>A line of hearses wait at the harbor on Lampedusa Island to collect bodies of people who lost their lives in this week's high seas tragedy.</p> <p>The UN refugee agency called on the European Union (EU) to urgently change its approach to dealing with irregular crossings of the Mediterranean Sea and make saving lives the topmost priority.</p>
<p><em>Food and essential items given to the refugees<br /></em></p> <p>The clashes and resulting poor security have nearly emptied border towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria, as people have fled to Niger. “Unlike previous waves of displaced people, those arriving today seem determined to stay longer in Niger,” said Yssouf Koné, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Diffa.</p>
<p><em>Protest against terrorism in Tunis</em></p> <p>An anti-terrorism protest has drawn large crowds in Tunis.</p> <p>Chanting “Free Tunisia, out with terrorism”, the rally took place under a heavy police presence.</p> <p>It comes shortly after Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda killed four soldiers on Wednesday. Both Nidaa Tunis and the Islamist party Ennahda called for supporters to join the march.</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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