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>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.
<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>
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
More than 170 events across dozens of countries brought United World Week 2026 to life through initiatives, meetings, and concrete actions dedicated to peace, fraternity, and the building of a more united world.
Dialogue & Interculture
Health, Sport & Ecology
Dialogue & Interculture
Active Citizenship & Politics
After thirty years spent in some of the world's most challenging environments, Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, reflects on child protection, hope and the humanity that endures even in the midst of war.
Active Citizenship & Politics
Stefano Zaffino, author of Fraternità e Profezia (Fraternity and Prophecy): The Thought of Igino Giordani in the Wake of the Encyclical Fratelli tutti, reflects on fraternity as a response to the conflicts and divisions of the contemporary world.
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.
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