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>The Nepalese government has launched an ambitious new programme which aims to eradicate illiteracy in the country by 2015</em></p> <p><br /><strong>The Literate Nepal Mission aims</strong> to ensure 1.38 million Nepalese people learn to read and write every year for three years, with an investment of Rs 3.95bn (£27.9m). According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), the country’s literacy rate currently stands at 70%.</p> <p><strong>In 2008, the literacy rate was 55.6%.</strong> A previous drive in 2009 – The Literacy Campaign – failed to meet its target of wiping out illiteracy, but has paved the way for this most recent programme.
<p><em>Likens Christianity to a symphony with different instruments</em></p> <p><strong>(ANSA) - Vatican City, October 9</strong> - Pope Francis on Wednesday called on the faithful to embrace diversity within Christianity at a general audience in which he spoke on the meaning of "catholic" as it pertains to the Church.</p> <p><strong>"The Church is catholic because it is home to everyone</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Everyone is a child of the Church and everyone is in that home</strong>," Pope Francis declared to a crowd of followers in St. Peter's Square estimated by the Vatican to number 60,000.
<p><em><em>An unprecedented high number of names being put forward this year.</em></em></p> <p><strong>The highly prestigious Nobel Prize for Peace</strong> is seeing an unprecedented high number of names being put forward this year. There are more than 250 candidates. The list is kept secret. But bookmakers are giving two to one odds that Malala Yousafzai wins it.</p> <p><strong>The 16-year-old was shot in the head and left</strong> for dead by Taliban attackers in her native Pakistan, but she survived. She had been actively campaigning for support for education for girls. If she were chosen, she would be the youngest laureate in the history of the Nobel awards.(...)
<p><em>The medical director of a clinic in Italy shares what touches her most when treating patients. During 18-19 October, in Padua, health professionals will gather together in a conference to share reflections and projects on patient-centred care.</em></p> <p><strong>“I was standing near a stretcher in the Emergency Room</strong> when I saw two perfectly dressed women at the end of the corridor. They were followed by a small child whose jumpsuit was a bit too big. He appeared hesitant with his astonished gaze as he clutched a small airplane close to his chest. I wondered who the boy’s mother was because he didn’t resemble either one of the two who, by the way, answered in unison to every question about the boy’s health. Meanwhile, Vito sat on a clinic couch, refusing to give his airplane to the nurse who wanted to take a blood sample.”</p> <p><strong>This is the story of Marina D’Antonio</strong>, an Italian doctor who says that she’s ‘in love’ with the Gospel. She has already racked up countless experiences with patients of all ages and backgrounds. And she says that she has always made an effort to set aside rules and impositions that often hide behind the white coat, and embrace the humanity of each patient that comes to her for treatment.In this story the main character is a child.</p>
<p><em>The continuing economic crisis can lead to dishonest shortcuts, an experience that goes against this current.</em></p> <p><strong>Around two years ago, in a timespan of about three months</strong>, my teeth began to deteriorate in a dramatic way. So I went to a dentist and asked for an estimate of the cost of the work that would have to be done. Heart attack! It was going to cost a good 10,000 Swiss francs.</p> <p><strong>I discussed the decision with my wife</strong> and, given the urgency, we decided to accept the doctor’s estimate and proceed with the treatment. The cure lasted a few months and that gave us time to prepare for the important investment.<br />On the second to last visit the dentist informed me that there were further complications and the cost would be raised to a total of 11,280 francs.
<p><em>An original and simple idea from an assistant teacher helps to melt tensions in classrooms of small children. The teacher recounts:</em></p> <p><strong>“I work in an elementary school as an assistant teacher</strong>. There is a boy in my classroom who wears a hearing aid. For the sake of privacy I’ll call him F. He has problems getting along with his classmates who are then disrespectful towards him and excluding him from their games. There is a general atmosphere of rivalry among the children who compete in underscoring the errors and defects of those who seem to be weak. So I decided to engage them in an activity that would be gratifying to them and would help them to see the good in one another; and hoping that they would also see the good in F.
<p><em>The experience of Rahmé confirms that in the name of brotherhood, any barrier can be torn down, even at the cost of serious risks.</em></p> <p><strong>«After my studies of fashion design I worked</strong> for several years in the clothing sector. Providence then gave me a chance to work in a humanitarian organization with a religious sister of the Focolare Movement. Together we brought ahead projects, teaching the women evacuees sewing, embroidery as well as fashion design. In this way we helped them to then find a job in order to support their families.</p> <p><strong>In September 2012, 45 women enrolled for the course</strong>. They belonged to all the different faiths present in the country (Sunnites, Shiites, Christians, Alawites, Druze) and of various political tendencies. They had only one thing in common: they were evacuees and had lost everything. There were very strong and evident tensions between them, they even refused to stay in the same place.
<p><em>The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence</em>.</p> <p><strong>According to General Assembly resolution</strong> A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness." The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence."</p> <p><strong>Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly</strong> on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy.</p>
<p><em>Almost a month after its adoption, we want to give relief to this important legislation </em></p> <p><strong>6 August 2013 - IOM South Africa has welcomed the signing</strong> into law of the long-awaited Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill by President Jacob Zuma.</p> <p><strong>The new legislation clearly makes trafficking in persons</strong> a criminal offence. In addition, it has also created offences such as debt bondage; the possession, destruction, concealment of and tampering with travel documents; and using the services of victims of trafficking, among others.</p>
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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