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>Little but great experiences during the WYD's eve. A seminar was held at PUC University in which young people belonging to the three great monotheistic religions have builded bridges in Rio de Janeiro</em></p> <p><strong>For the first time in the World Youth Day history</strong>, there was an encounter between young people of the three great monotheistic religions. Sunday, 21st, 150 young Catholics, Jews and Muslims met at the auditorium in the PUC University for a seminar sponsored by the Interreligious Youth of Rio de Janeiro (JIRJ, in Portuguese) in order to celebrate “unity in diversity” and put into practice dialogue, going down to the smallest details. For example, the organizers decided not to offer any refreshments during the interval in order to respect the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan.</p>
<p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.focolare.org" target="_blank">www.focolare.org.</a> By living the Golden Rule in the Focolare community of Acquaviva delle Fonti in southern Italy, people share the family spirit with otherswho are living far from their homes and loved ones.</em></p> <p><strong>They come from the most varied backgrounds, lands and cultures</strong>: Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Morocco, Senegal, Romania, Nigeria and Belarus. Like many of their fellow countrymen and women they are leaving behind dramatic situations, as well as their loved ones in the hope of finding work and a better future for their lives.
<p><em>This is the very first of our monthly appointments: “Leaders in fraternity”. What we would like to do is take a look through history and discover people who have lived for this ideal. We want to begin with Cardinal Francois-Xavier Ngujén Van Thuan, an Asian contemporary. The 6th July marked the conclusion of the first phase of the beatification process</em></p> <p><strong>Simplicity and hope.</strong> For many people, whether in Tanzania or in Korea, he was known simply as ‘Bishop Francis’ which is what he wanted to be called. He was a simple and friendly person. His love for humanity and confident hope made him an icon of the Asian Catholic Church. The first phase of Cardinal Van Thuan’s beatification process concluded on 5th and 6th July in the Vatican. It is a process that began immediately after his death in 2010.
<p><em>There are on-going meetings between the Youth for a United World (Y4UW) and the UNESCO National Commissions in various countries of the globe. After Australia, it was Jordan’s turn to meet UNESCO at Amman, early July. The Y4UW give a summary of this afternoon meeting.</em></p> <p> </p> <p>“Throughout this year, along with our community, we have tried to spread the culture of fraternity.<br />This was our aim and spirit when we met with Ms Nuria Roca Ruiz, responsible for the Culture Unit at the UNESCO National Commission in Amman, Jordan on Monday 1st July. During the one and a half hours spent with Ms Nuria we described the United World Project (UWP) in its three aspects: the Network, the Watch and the Workshop.</p>
<p><em>An Italian girl narrates as a firsthand observer, the launch of the project of sharing with the African continent, which involves the youth of the Focolare Movement, as part of the larger United World Project. A "one way" trip. From the site www.focolare.org</em></p> <p> </p> <p>“We reached Mariapolis Piero (Nairobi, Kenya) on the 10 May morning, and were welcomed as only the Africans know how: with smiles and hugs without reserve for all! This is because they place the person at the centre of their days, and we discovered this through their lives, and the stories of their tribes that were presented during the School of Inculturation.
<p><br /><em>“Legality”: a meeting at Caserta from 29th July to 2nd August 2013 for over 600 young people of the Peninsula who wish to bear witness to a strong desire for change</em></p> <p>There is a need for a change towards a more lawful society in order to respond to Italy’s local challenges. Young people from all over Italy, who wish to become leaders for this change will be gathering at Pala Vignola, from 29th July to 2nd August. They are the promoters of this meeting which will also engage associations, local businesses and citizens. They wish to stop the growing mistrust in particular territories which is extending to the whole country in order to become responsible and active agents for this important change.
<p><em>In spite of the crises in Spain, in the small city of Aljucer in southern Spain there has been an increase in the number of projects in favour of the “Brotherhood with Africa” project</em></p> <p>A group of Focolare volunteers from the Spanish communities recounts: “It seems only yesterday that we began to work with the “Brotherhood with Africa” project. It was in April 2009. To help the project grow we had organized several activities in the region of Murcia, which concluded with a benefit dinner. Now we are holding the fifth edition.”
<p><em>The United World Week in Manila and in other locations has been full of activities inspired by a </em>spirit<em> of solidarity and sharing</em></p> <p><em></em>While the “Be the Bridge” event was unfolding in Jerusalem, we, the Youth for a United World from the Philippines, were engaged in preparing United World Week activities in Manila. The link-up with the Holy Land was the starting point for a week which was full of events. There were 10 on-going “fragments of fraternity”; this is how the Youth for a United World describe initiatives for the United World Project. These took place in Manila, Baguio, a northern city and in some other cities.</p>
<p><br /><em>This is how the Youth for a United World (Y4UW) from the Cuban capital and other towns on the island have lived the United World Week (UWW), creating an info-pack that could be helpful to present the United World Project</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p>On the one hand an information pack, aimed at explaining the United World Project, was prepared and sent to the various cities. In this way, the local young people, along with the help of the community, could launch the project. On the other hand, there were many activities carried out during the United World Week (UWW), aimed at giving a tangible sign of brotherhood expressed in the various areas of society. This is how the Youth for a United World of Havana, Florida, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba, have experienced the closing days of April dedicated to UWW 2013.
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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