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 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.
<p><i>Live streaming and worldwide link-up via television channels. All the information you need in order to follow the closing event of the Genfest year</i> </p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://live.focolare.org/uww2013">Jerusalem, Budapest, Mumbai and Loppiano (Florence – Italy). In just one day, 1<sup>st</sup> May 2013, these four cities will be linked up together and with all the world through live streaming</a> and international tv transmission to make brotherhood visible. This is how the Youth for a United World celebrate the 1<sup>st</sup> of May.</p>
<p><em>One hundred and thirty Focolare young people from25 countries meet Mayor Vera Baboun in Bethlehem, along with some of their Palestinian age-mates. Mayor Baboun remarked: “In a country wounded by the absence of brotherhood the rule that says ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is the real change”</em></p> <p>The Peace Centre is located in the multi-religious and political heart of Bethlehem. In the same square – a square of white stone and surrounded by palm trees – there is the Basilica of the Nativity and the Mosque, a coexistence that has nothing of confrontation or intolerance. Next door is the Town Hall and all around the colours of the Bethlehem market. There is also the haunting wall that the Israeli government has constructed in defence of its territory.
<p><em>An email from Cameroon to tell us how the United World Project is a continuous occasion for little actions of fraternity</em> </p> <p>«Lots of greetings from Fontem.</p> <p>«We are making steps ahead in the United World Project. At some point we felt the need of committing ourselves to live more before going ahead with the signatures, to be able to back the campaign up, with our own experiences. Things are going ahead gradually, but steadily. For example, Youth for United World club members of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College Fontem share about their little project; cleaning of refectory tables after breakfast every day, which is one of the problem areas. It has been a powerful challenge, which required much humility and courage in overcoming our shyness and pride to do such a mean exercise.</p>
<p><em>With minus, division, plus and equals. Youth for a United World of Jordan tell us their day "On the way" togheter the Ammad comunity </em></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“We, Youth for a United World, believe that a united world is built with the simplest acts of love toward the other in need where ever we are. Therefore, we decided to launch the initiative "</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">عالماشي</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> " or "On the Way" which basically calls the youth to do a drive in Amman (the capital of Jordan) and find creative ways to do "good" for whoever we meet "on the way". We were divided into Five groups each with a mission to do while driving into the City. Learning from the" Teens for Unity", we have used their own mathematical signs, which they have interpreted into concrete actions of Love, as slogans for each group's mission; for example, one of the groups had the "<strong>Minus</strong>" sign with the slogan "To reduce pain"; they went to a general park where they did lots of cleaning and picking up wastes and garbage; they also did some face painting with the kids who were playing with their families.</span></p>
<p><em>A letter from a <a href="http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Youth for a United World</a>, Joel Pina, which tells us how in the heart of Africa are experiencing a piece of universal brotherhood for the Diocesan Youth Day</em></p> <p>“Well, I am here today, representing the Youth for a United World (Y4UW), a branch of the Focolare Movement.<br />What I am about to tell you is something really interesting! I hope that all of you will get this great idea! Or at least, become curious about it. It is something that has emerged from the youth but it is open to everyone else! It is the “United World Project”.</p>
Health, Sport & Ecology
United World Week
Discover Run4Unity 2026, a global race bringing thousands of young people together in the name of peace. From Italy to Uganda, Brazil to Hong Kong, the relay of solidarity and sport forms just one part of United World Week 2026.
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.
EN
