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>If several African countries are known because of civil wars, extreme poverty, dictatorship, and corruption, Botswana can be considered an exception in the continent. </em><em>In fact, it is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, mostly desert, rich in diamond resources, sparsely populated – only around two million inhabitants.<br /></em></p> <p>Economically speaking, it is one of the few African countries which has experienced one of the greatest growth in the world since the 1960s, out of the exploitation of its very rich <strong>diamond resources</strong>, but also thanks to the good management implemented by its leaders since independence. As to economic growth, for example, while the rest of Africa experienced an average negative economic growth rate of -0.3% over the period 1965 to 1998, Botswana recorded an average 7.7% growth rate over the same period. Such performance was, at the time, higher than the one of the ‘Asian tigers’ - which performed miracles of economic growth during the last quarter century. In this perspective, <strong>this country of reference for Africa multiplied by 11 the standard of living of its citizens between 1960 and 2007 according to the 2008 World Bank Report</strong>.
<p><em>Today, at the Polo Lionello Bonfanti, in the Burchio neighbourhood, Municipality of Incisa Valdarno, Province of Florence, Italy, the official inauguration of a multimedia exhibition of social, civil, and communion economy - "SCiC" – will take place.</em></p> <p>There is also a <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1812800599039553/">SCiC economy</a></strong>. No, it is not a typing error, we just wrote well. It is about the <em>s</em>ocial, <em>c</em>ivil, and <em>c</em>ommunion economy on exhibition at the <strong><a href="http://www.pololionellobonfanti.it/">Polo Lionello Bonfanti</a></strong> from today.</p>
<address>Last Saturday, the United World Week was closed in Cordoba, Argentina, with the first event aimed at introducing the Dice of Peace, prior to the inauguration of the Monument of the Dice of Peace that will be erected in a central square of the city.</address> <p>Last Saturday the first activity to introduce the Dice of Peace was held, as part of a plan scheduled to be carried out in 6 peripheral and marginalized areas of Cordoba. Behind this initiative, carried out jointly by the Focolare Movement, the Youth for a United World, and the</p> <p>Office of the Ombudsman of the Rights of Children and Adolescents of the Province of Cordoba, there is the idea of introducing the Dice of Peace through theatre plays, songs, and games that would involve 6 to 12 year-old children who live in complex, stigmatized, and peripheral areas of the city of Cordoba.</p>
<p>The Project’s name is <em><strong><a href="http://www.besom.com/">The Besom</a></strong></em>. Yes, the broom made of twigs that you use in the garden to sweep away leaves or dirt. Only in this case, rather than leaves, "<strong>The Besom</strong>" is a Foundation that aims to wipe away pain and suffering. You can read on their Website:</p> <address>Poverty, isolation, abuse, ill health, injustice, homelessness: we all see the sharp inequalities of life around us and the devastating impacts they have on people’s lives. Many of us want to do something, to get involved but we don't always know how. The Besom exists to help you make a difference to the lives of others and to make it easy for you to do so.
<p>Some years ago, in the Province of Buenos Aires, the Focolare Movement created a Foundation that they called later on Civil Association “<strong><a href="http://www.asociacionnuevosol.org.ar/">Nuevo Sol</a></strong>” (New Sun). It includes three Community Centers located in vulnerable areas of the Province.</p> <p>These centers offer sports activities, such as soccer and hockey on grass (a highly developed sport in Argentina), recreational activities, workshops, as well as after-school support and health-care services. </p>
<p>I arrived late, when the class had already started, because I got a wrong exit on the highway. Not so bad, after all, because the dancers I had to interview were already engaged in their session of classical dance – a rehearsal of a beautiful choreography. I pleasantly waited, enjoying the figures and the plots, and took some pictures.</p> <p>The “Laboratorio Accademico Danza” (Academic Dance Workshop), under the artistic direction of Ms. Antonella Lombardo, is located in the Municipality of Massa-Cozzile, in the Nievole Valley, Province of Pistoia, Central Italy, harmoniously integrated in the facilities of a commercial area.<br />It was established in 1984 in the town of Monsummano Terme and, a few years ago, it found this setting made up of white and bright spaces, which smells of art and opportunities for self-expression. A place where you feel at home, right away. A school, but also an association, the Cultural Association “Dancelab Armonia”, which aims to "develop and disseminate the idea of possible harmony, both with reference to the individuals and the communities, and the use of Art as a crosswise tool to build Harmony among Peoples."</p>
<p><img src="images/2017/africasatview.jpg" alt="Africa" width="260" height="247" style="margin-right: 3px; float: left;" /><em>Youth</em> is a broad subject, that has sparked a lot of discussion, especially amongst youth movements worldwide (the Arab Spring, the « outraged » in Europe, and demonstrations against abuses perpetrated by African leaders, etc.). However, this article shall focus only on the role young people are supposed to play. </p> <p>As a matter of fact, young people have been considered as a marginalized category for a long time, but today they are being targeted. And this is happening not only because of the enormous potential they represent and the self-confidence they seem to have, but also because they are able to change the world for the better and, unfortunately, also for the worse. Experts believe that many young people try to enhance their potential, but do not always succeed. When opportunities are lacking, their ambition turns to frustration, which is then exploited by groups who are working to promote their own agenda such as politicians, extremists, drug cartels, armed groups, etc. Analysts believe that young people are vulnerable to indoctrination, especially because they lack experience and historically-conscious knowledge. </p>
<p><em><span style="background-color: transparent;"><img src="images/2017/PROFOR/d.jpg" alt="proforeng1" width="260" height="172" style="margin-right: 3px; float: left;" />What can possibly share a beautician-hairdresser and a farmer who produces organic products, or a pizza maker and an entrepreneur in the concrete sector? These are examples of start-up businesses that participated in Brazil in the "PROFOR" Project, i.e., the "Program for the Reinforcement of Inclusive Businesses of Communion", the first experience that AMU implemented in collaboration with ANPECOM (National Association for an Economy of Communion). See </span><a href="http://anpecom.com.br/" style="background-color: transparent;">http://anpecom.com.br/</a></em></p> <p>"We looked around, and noted that there are many people in vulnerable social situations," says Clézia Maria Pinto de Santana, the person in charge of ANPECOM projects. "Perhaps many of them had ideas and good will, but no adequate training to creating and running a business. This inspired us to try to support them, drawing on our experience."</p>
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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