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><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.
<p>“Hi, I’m Blossom.</p> <p>Forgive, such a small word and hard to put into practice but brings immense joy and peace to us.</p> <p>When I was three years old when my dad left my mom and me to live separately. From the key hole of my bedroom door I would see my mom weeping every evening when she would get back from work. That’s the time when anger and hatred grew towards my father. As years passed, this anger grew like a wild fire within me. If anyone would ask me about my father I had a standard answer to it: 'He is dead'. He was really as good as dead for me.</p>
<p><em>From the site “catanzaroinforma” comes news of pupils from five classes of a primary school, who put on a show with the theme of reciprocal love</em> </p> <p>The interdisciplinary project “The golden rule” continues to enflame the hearts of the pupils of the “G. Sabatini” primary school of Roccelletta, Borgia (Calabria, Italy). This project is part of a bigger one, “Fraternity and peace for the unity of peoples”, which is promoted for Sicily and Calabria by the international movement “New Humanity” (the school, education and culture section), “Youth for a united world”, and “Teens for unity”. It accompanies children during their five primary school years to educate them towards reciprocal love through the so-called golden rule: “do to others what you would like them to do to you”. </p>
<p><em>Muslims and Christians together, spending an exciting day in the name of brotherhood. Besides, there is also the presentation of the United World Project and 500 new signatures. Regina, a Youth </em><em>for a United World, shares her story</em></p> <p>“The Youth for a United World of Nigeria have successfully concluded our Genfest which took place on 4th May, 2013. It was held at Justice Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha, in the Eastern part of Nigeria.</p> <p>“Our Genfest was entitled “Let’s bridge” and right from the start we tried to bridge first and foremost among ourselves before going out to bridge with others. On the day of the Genfest we felt that the bridges were already being built because the Stadium was colored with people from different ethnics groups, religions and cultures numbering up to 1000. The Governor of Anambra State, represented by the Education Commissioner, also attended along with many dignitaries. The Archbishop of the diocese sent a letter, bestowing his blessings. Some Muslims were also present, including the chief Imam of the Muslim community in the State.</p>
<p><em>The Youth for a United World (Y4UW) from Slovenia, Mexico, Czech Republic and Ivory Coast met with the <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/" target="_blank">UNESCO</a> National Commissions</em></p> <p>After France and Uruguay, it was Slovenia’s, Czech Republic’s, Mexico’s and Ivory Coast’s turn to hold their meetings. We are referring to last month’s Youth for a United World meetings with the respective national commissions for UNESCO. Here are some excerpts of what they have written to us.</p> <p style="font-size: 13px;"><strong>From the Czech Republic:</strong> “On 30th May, we met with the UNESCO National Commission in Prague. We were received by the responsible, Dr. Michaela Andresová and in a very open and sincere atmosphere, we presented ourselves explaining the United World Project and how we live for universal brotherhood with young people from all over the world. We also presented our projects in the Czech Republic.<br />Dr. Michaela Andresová listened to us very attentively and at the end, she requested us to keep in touch and update her regularly on all that we are doing and especially with regards to the progress of the United World Project.”</p>
<p><em>It’s amazing how our life can be enriched when living next to someone who’s so different</em></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p>During the United World Week, around sixty young students and young professionals spent the weekend, from 27th to 28th April, at Arny, the Mariapolis Centre near Paris. The theme was: “Is the other person and his-her differences a brake or a springboard to leap forward?”<br />These youth belonged to different areas of France. There were Christians, Muslims and those with non-religious convictions. They shared their differences they were enriched with the experience that “loving together is possible!”</p>
Economy & Work
Thirty-five years ago a dream was born: the Economy of Communion. In late May Argentina will host an extraordinary celebration where people of all ages will come together to breathe new life into this project and write the future for a different kind of economy.
Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si’ Movement, reflects on ten years of the encyclical, analysing how integral ecology is an essential path to global unity and tackling the climate crisis.
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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