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 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>
<p><em>Here is the description of the fragment of fraternity carried out during the United World Week in </em><em>Central America narrated through photos and words</em></p> <p>“Hi to everyone!<br />Around sixty of us youth gathered in the Mariapolis Centre in Guatemala.<br />Our United World Week (UWW) began last night with a vigil of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament with meditations, music and songs.</p>
<p><em>A way to relive the 1st May from Jerusalem: excerpts of the speech delivered during the live streaming of the event</em></p> <p>“...We would like to present to you an on-going project: the United World Project. It all started in Budapest last September. There were 12,000 of us, together with other 500 thousand young people from all over the world linked to us via internet. So many stories, so many ideals led us there.
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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